Electoral commission starts issuing nomination forms

National Electoral Commission (NEC) chairman (retired) Judge Damian Lubuva speaks in Dar es Salaam  yesterday on nomination form programme ahead of October 25 General Election. Left is Dar es Salaam Special Zone region Police Commander, Suleiman Kova and right is head of election supervision desk Clothilde Komba. PHOTO|CITIZEN PHOTOGRAPHER 

In Summary

• NEC said three parties — United People’s Democratic Party (UPDP), Tanzania Labour Party (TLP) and Democratic Party (DP) — are scheduled to pick the forms today.
• NEC chairman Damian Lubuva said yesterday UPDP had been scheduled to pick up the forms at 9am followed by TLP at noon and DP at 2pm.

Dar es Salaam. The issuance of presidential nomination forms starts today, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) has announced.

NEC said three parties — United People’s Democratic Party (UPDP), Tanzania Labour Party (TLP) and Democratic Party (DP) — are scheduled to pick the forms today.

NEC chairman Damian Lubuva said yesterday UPDP had been scheduled to pick up the forms at 9am followed by TLP at noon and DP at 2pm.

Aspirants withdraw from CCM preferential election

 

In Summary

The CCM secretary in Srerengeti District, Mr Paulo Mwita, confirmed to have received a withdraw letter from the two

By Anthony Mayunga

Serengeti. Two contestants among several CCM members who were seeking nomination as parliamentary seat candidates in Serengeti have withdrawn from the race, citing favouritism of party leaders towards the outgoing MP.

The CCM secretary in Srerengeti District, Mr Paulo Mwita, confirmed to have received a letter from the two aspirants, Dr James Wanyancha and Mr Mabenga Magonera.

CCM breaks silence on Lowassa’s decamping

CCM Urban regional  chairman Borafya Silima Juma speaks to journalists at the CCM Kisiwandui Office in Zanzibar yesterday. With him are party officials. PHOTO| CORRESPONDENT 

In Summary

Speaking at CCM headquarters in Kisiwandui, National Executive Committee member Shamsi Vuai Nahodha criticised Mr Lowassa’s comment that the process to pick its presidential candidate was unfair

By Salma Said, The Citizen Correspondent

Zanzibar. CCM has broken its silence over former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa’s defection to the opposition, saying it is not shaken by his decision.

Addressing a news conference that was beamed live by Zanzibar Broadcasting Corporation, party officials hit back at Mr Lowassa and said they were optimistic that the party would garner a landslide victory despite his exit.

It is not yet uhuru for women in Kenya

Activists protest in Nairobi over the one-third gender rule in July 31, 2015. Kenyan women have been left out of institutions of governance despite the fact that in 2000 the United Nations passed Resolution 1325, which calls for increased participation of women at all levels of decision-making. PHOTO | WILLIAM OERI | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• Without land title deeds to act as collateral, women have limited access to credit.
• Discriminatory laws based on culture, such as the non-inheritance of land by women, need to be done away with.
• One of the main reasons for this sorry state of affairs is the high level of poverty.
• Indeed, as Mr Obama said, it is stupid to go to war without half your army!

By FATUMA MOHAMED

During his recent visit, President Barack Obama clearly stated that for any society to progress, women have to be at the centre of it.

For Kenyan women to play their role in development, four key issues — entrepreneurship, education, security and governance — need to be addressed.

Why most Americans were not bothered by leader’s Kenya visit

US President Barack Obama disembarks from Air Force One upon arrival at JKIA in Nairobi, Kenya, July 24, 2015. His emergence from Air Force One burst the bubble of longing and ushered in the long-awaited homecoming. PHOTO | SAUL LOEB | AFP 

In Summary

• His emergence from Air Force One burst the bubble of longing and ushered in the long-awaited homecoming.
• On social media, there were some Americans who delighted in his trip to his father’s homeland.
• Then there were others who were cynical; they questioned the ‘‘waste’’ of US taxpayers’ money on such a ‘‘pampered’’ crusade.

By SAMUEL OLLUNGA
More by this Author

The reception Barack Obama got on his maiden presidential visit to Kenya was unparalleled.

Not because of the exquisite pageantry Kenya rolled out — and that was a sight to behold.

But rather on account of the heartfelt joy that marked the occasion.

He was treated like a long-lost true son of the land.

His emergence from Air Force One burst the bubble of longing and ushered in the long-awaited homecoming.

Opposition licks its wounds after Obama’s visit

US President Barack Obama during a joint press conference with Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in Addis Ababa on July 27, 2015. Until last week’s visit by US President Barack Obama to Africa, Kenya’s opposition leaders had long postured as America’s bosom buddies. AFP PHOTO | ZACHARIAS ABUBEKER 

In Summary

• Mr Obama had no truck with that ethnic navel-gazing that would have required him to visit his father’s birthplace in Kogelo.
• When Mr Obama was first elected President, the coalition government of Kenya declared a national holiday to celebrate his victory.
• At African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, when Mr Obama spoke sternly to African leaders against clinging onto power long past their prime.
• Moreover, America has a great conversation going with the government, and the opposition is not invited.

By KWAMCHETSI MAKOKHA
More by this Author

Until last week’s visit by US President Barack Obama to Africa, Kenya’s opposition leaders had long postured as America’s bosom buddies.

Not any more.

These enemies of their motherland drank copious amounts of diplomatic hooch while whispering lies about the illegitimacy of their country’s government; its corruption and its alleged dysfunction.

Their poison about the criminality of the leadership dissuaded American entrepreneurs from putting their dollars into the Kenyan economy.

He came and lectured us on things we already know, but I do not feel hurt

Former US Assistant Secretary of State, Johnnie Carson. Both Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto mobilised that narrative in their fight against the ICC and directed their arsenal against Carson who dared to suggest that choices have consequences. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• I know the sensitivity in Africa about being lectured by those who have presided over imperial powers.
• Indeed, both Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto mobilised that narrative in their fight against the ICC.
• In fact, they directed their arsenal against Johnnie Carson, who, as Assistant Secretary, dared to suggest that choices have consequences.
• Dr Mutua makes me wish I had a formula on how to lose all sense of shame.

By GODWIN MURUNGA
More by this Author

Before President Barack Obama departed for Nairobi, the American talk show host, Tavis Smiley, interviewed a former Assistant Secretary of State, Johnnie Carson, on the upcoming trip.

Tavis, together with Dr Cornel West, are well-known critics of President Obama.

Tavis pointed to President Obama’s penchant for lecturing the black community in the US and regretted that he seems to have a base that supports him even when he talks down at them.

I know the sensitivity in Africa about being lectured by those who have presided over imperial powers.

Indeed, both Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto mobilised that narrative in their fight against the ICC.

CHOICES HAVE CONSEQUENCES