I will confound my rivals, vows Nyalandu

The Minister of Natural Resource and Tourism Lazzaro Nyalandu 

By Mussa Juma

In Summary

“I will show them how I am accepted within the party ranks as far as presidential race is concerned. The time for the youth has come,” he declared.

Arusha. The minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr Lazaro Nyalandu, has promised to surprise other presidential aspirants under CCM when he picks the forms for his bid for Ikulu this week.

“I will show them how I am accepted within the party ranks as far as presidential race is concerned. The time for the youth has come,” he declared.

The minister made the statement here yesterday after attending prayers at the Lutheran Church in the heart of Arusha.

He told reporters he had already officially announced his intention to vie for presidency on a CCM ticket last December and that his next move is simply to pick the forms.

“I made my position clear six months ago. I can’t do it twice. My next move in the next seven days it to pick the forms to vie for presidency on CCM ticket”, he said.

The Singida North MP who is reportedly supported by stakeholders in the tourism sector, said he was sure he would emerge victorious. The suave, youthful minister announced his intention to vie for presidency at his Ilongero Village in Singida Region in December last year.

Mr Nyalandu becomes one of over a dozen politicians—many of them serving and former ministers—who have shown intention to vie for the Union presidency in the October 25 elections.

He said he would be escorted by scores of people among them those from women and youth groups when he heads to Dodoma to pick the forms.

Two other CCM politicians yesterday formally announced they would be in the race for the highest office in the country. They are the minister for Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives, Mr Steven Masatu Wassira and Mr Mwigulu Nchemba, the deputy minister for Finance. On Saturday, Arusha hosted one of the biggest crowds in its history when the former prime minister Mr Edward Ngoyai Lowassa announced he was indeed in the race to Ikulu.