By Asterius Banzi and Erick Kabendera
In Summary
- On the day he was sacked, Mr Nnauye called a press conference, but armed police violently scuttled it as soon as he arrived at the venue.
- In CCM circles, Mr Nnauye is considered very grounded. His father, Brig Moses Nnauye, was a strategist for the founding president Julius Nyerere.
- Political analysts say he is headed for the backbench in parliament to join forces with youthful CCM renegades such as Hussein Bashe and Joseph Musukuma.
Nape Nnauye, 40, the man who was Information Minister until
Wednesday, is described by admirers as a fearless man, who speaks his
mind.
A former publicity secretary for the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), he is credited with helping the party romp to victory in the 2015 elections, after which President John Magufuli rewarded him with a ministerial post.
A former publicity secretary for the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), he is credited with helping the party romp to victory in the 2015 elections, after which President John Magufuli rewarded him with a ministerial post.
But, on Wednesday, he was sacked over what is seen as a budding
defiance against his party leader, President Magufuli, and his stand on
the controversial Dar es Salaam regional commissioner Paul Makonda.
On the day he was sacked, Mr Nnauye called a press conference,
but armed police violently scuttled it as soon as he arrived at the
venue. A man believed to be a plainclothes policeman ordered him at
gunpoint to board his car and leave, but he defied the order and
addressed journalists from his car.
He said he had no grudge against President Magufuli for sacking
him, but criticised the police for “thinking they have a right to
determine the fate of the youth of Tanzania.”
“Do these people know how we fought for this country?” he asked.
“I fought for 28 months, sleeping in the forests to bring CCM to
power.”
He reiterated his patriotism and his commitment to the principles of truth and justice.
He reiterated his patriotism and his commitment to the principles of truth and justice.
“I will always say the truth and stand by what I believe in,” he
said. “There is always a price in defending people’s rights and I am
ready to pay that price,” he said.
His move to publicly disagree with how the government has
handled the war on drugs has earned him rave reviews from the public.
The war is led by Mr Makonda.
In CCM circles, Mr Nnauye is considered very grounded. His
father, Brig Moses Nnauye, was a strategist for the founding president
Julius Nyerere.
In the 2015, Mr Nnauye and youthful MP January Makamba led the
presidential campaign, garnering enormous support of young
professionals.
But now that he has fallen out with the party leader, what is his political future?
But now that he has fallen out with the party leader, what is his political future?
Political analysts say he is headed for the backbench in
parliament to join forces with youthful CCM renegades such as Hussein
Bashe and Joseph Musukuma, who have been critical of President Magufuli
and his economic policies, which they describe as erratic.
There is a rebellion simmering in CCM, with about 160 MPs
threatening to impeach Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa to express their
displeasure with the way the country is being run. Sources within CCM
say that the MPs are unhappy about the President’s support for Mr
Makonda, who is accused of ridiculing legislators.
For over a month, Mr Makonda has captured the national psyche, with some people calling on the President to rein him in and have him investigated over allegations of fraud.
For over a month, Mr Makonda has captured the national psyche, with some people calling on the President to rein him in and have him investigated over allegations of fraud.
But at the launch of the Ubungo interchange in Dar es Salaam
last week, President Magufuli, who was accompanied by World Bank
President Jim Yong Kim, defended the RC, and dismissed as “social media
trash” criticism levelled against the administrator.
“People are spending a lot of time discussing nonsense in social media. And some of them are trying to instruct me on what to do. They are interfering with my freedom. I am not a person to be instructed on what to do. Mr Makonda, go on working hard, don’t worry,” said the President.
Hours later, Mr Nnauye was sacked after presenting a report on the conduct of the RC to the president.
READ: Makonda: The self-made man many love to hate
“People are spending a lot of time discussing nonsense in social media. And some of them are trying to instruct me on what to do. They are interfering with my freedom. I am not a person to be instructed on what to do. Mr Makonda, go on working hard, don’t worry,” said the President.
Hours later, Mr Nnauye was sacked after presenting a report on the conduct of the RC to the president.
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