CCM needs to avoid the politics of ‘Majitaka’ and Matusi

            Before his death, former Speaker of the National Parliament Samuel Sitta left a byword if not a catchy word to Tanzanians, especially politicians. It is on record that Sitta coined the phrase ‘siasa za majitaka’ literary dirty politics or ‘sewage politics’ (by transliteration) wherein politicians smear others with abuses and all sorts of unbecoming behaviors to borrow from Kate Colby.

            After former CCM’s general secretaries Abdulrahaman Kinana and Yusuf Makamba wrote an epistle rebutting one Cyprian Musiba’s accusations against them that they were clandestinely working a plot to sabotage CCM’s Chairman, President John Pombe Magufuli in the coming general elections. After dispatching this stingy document, many tongues started wagging while others blabbed pointlessly so as to make an onlooker like myself to fail to distinguish between Musiba, his nemeses and the party bigwigs. After firing their ‘missile’ responding to Musiba’s volleys, alleging that Musiba is but somebody’s puppeteer if not a tool in somebody’s hand that does dirty laundry for those chartered him to ‘finish’ others. Others see him as an attack dog if not a lapdog next to a hoon that fulfils the will of its masters.  Whether this is true or otherwise, nobody knows up until the CCM addressed this conflict carefully and professionally. In conflict resolution studies we say that whenever conflict occurs, what we see is but the tip of the iceberg. This means what’s ongoing in CCM’s upper echelons of power is but a bigger problem than we can see. Therefore, the CCM needs to do it homework carefully and nicely in order to avoid setting a very toxic precedent for the coming retired leaders.

            Unfortunately, so unfortunately, after the duo vented their dissatisfaction about how Musiba has been ‘mollycoddled’ and left to attack whomever he deems fit, many commentators seemed to have easily bitten the bait wantonly. Others praised him for being a patriot while others decided either to take on him or pooh-pooh him altogether. Others treated him like a loose cannon that’s not easy to predict when it comes to its target and the way it approaches it. Many would like to know who this Musiba is before he becomes ‘msiba wa taifa.’

            After opening the floodgates, some of CCM’s bigwigs such as the current secretary General Bashiru Ally were heard calling the duo ‘wapumbavu’ or fools who must be ignored. Are the duo wapumbavu really? Is calling them names the solution many deservedly expect of the CCM one of oldest parties in Africa really? What’s gone wrong in the first place? Is ‘wapumbavu wapuuzwe’ the answer many CCM members and sympathisers expect from such a high-level leader of the party? Is this the answer or lack of it in the first place?  

            Another big cheese that weighed in is none other than Kheri D. James, the CCM youth wing or Umoja wa Vijana wa CCM (UVCCM), who was recently quoted wondering why detractors blame the CCM as if they don’t see its 'achievements', which are on the agora for every eye to see! To make this game of insults under the 'matusi culture' sound even crazier and interesting, James asked if those faulting the CCM need to have their wives impregnated, 'by who?'--please don't ask me go ask him-- so as to appreciate the job well done. Again, looking at the facts that neither Kinana’s nor Makamba’s wives are able to conceive thanks to their ages, one wonders what this insult aimed at serving. Aren’t Kinana and Makamba James’ parents' age mates even older? Do they lose this right simply because they erred which, up until now, has not been proved? Will this crop of leaders deliver the CCM in the near future? What went wrong? I may ask once again: Isn’t the matusi culture evidentially the sign of political insolvency? does this implies or speaks to sitta’s majitaka politics? Isn't an assertion of 'impregnating their wives' an assault to innocent wives of the duo who, I am sure, are as old as James' mother not to mention other women? Where will this culture take our nation? Who stands to gain or lose in this megalomaniac way of dealing with conflict by not dealing with it?

            Many had a kiki on social media by taking an advantage of this misunderstanding that Cde Msekwa refers to as ‘ugomvi wa ndugu’ or siblings’ squabbling’ posting their clips reprimanding, insulting and whatnots depending on the intention[s] of the persons. Some even who are not members of the CCM seized this opportunity to get some kiki if not making some political mileages.

            Fortunately, since the document surfaced for the CCM, its chairman has nary said anything vis-à-vis this imbroglio-cum-impasse. In the same vein, though in an active way, the former CCM Vice Chairman, Mzee Pius Msekwa, who also is a friend of mine, descended on both Musiba and his adversaries and the upper echelons of power to cool their heads and find a solution to this problem. Through his weekly treatise in the Daily News, Msekwa became a very competent umpire who did not take side. To prove that ‘uzee ni dawa’ and wisdom increases as someone clocks up years, though not all, Mzee Msekwa invoked the father of nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere’s prised ‘morsels of sagacity’ quoting from his huge and rare reserve of knowledge on how to adeptly deal with such conflict. Mzee Msekwa quoted Nyerere’s ‘Tujisahihishe’ and ‘Don’t shout, (just) argue’ dossiers as he urged both sides to avoid making a mountain out of a molehill. On top of that, some moles in the party in the general public would like to seize this opportunity in serving their dangerous and hidden agendas not to mention settling scores.

            On a serious note, the CCM needs to avoid the ‘politics of sewage’ by reprimanding those who bank on insults instead of providing right answers and a solution to a problem it is now facing. As for CCM’s bigwigs, cadres and gung-ho, they need to be the solution instead of becoming the part of the problem. Hell-nyet, things can’t go well this way. Insults don't normally work. If they do, they do so for the self-destruction not to mention creating the seeds of destruction within. Importantly, the CCM badly needs to show its maturity but not vacuity and uppity some of its misfits are now showing in addressing this conflict. It needs to make sure that the duo is unconditionally availed with the right to defence; and thereby enjoy the right of the presumption of innocence until proven guilty instead of being guilty until proven innocent as the current situation shows.
Siasa za majitaka na matusi hazijengi chama wala nchi bali zinabomoa na kuaibisha. This is not the way to go. Tujisahihishe and don't shout, just argue. Who wants to douce fire with oil or just guillotine him/herself?