CCM ready for presidential candidates’ debate - Samia

CCM is ready to hold a debate between its Union presidential candidate Dr John Magufuli and his Chadema counterpart Mr Edward Lowassa, it was revealed here. “We’re ready for the debate even tomorrow.

If other presidential aspirants from opposition parties other than CCM or Chadema want, they can also join us,” Chama Cha Mapinduzi Union presidential running mate Samia Suluhu Hassan told a campaign meeting. She was speaking at a campaign rally held at Kitangali Ward in Newala district, Mtwara Region.

She said the presidential candidates should be left to go it alone to enable the public to judge who is the right man for the highest office. “They’ve been complaining that we’re telling the public their political party is dominated by one tribe from one zone of the country.

Who doesn’t know this. I also heard that they want a debate...well we’re ready and it should be between the presidential candidates so that the public will know who to vote for come October 25,” she said.

Speaking at the same rally, CCM Newala Urban parliamentary candidate Mr George Mkuchika said the party’s presidential aspirant Dr Magufuli is young, strong energetic, and hard working. “I don’t see how the Chadema presidential candidate will address the nation every month if he cannot speak for 15 minutes,” he said.

He said CCM is the only political party in the country that adheres to rules and regulations in getting its presidential and parliamentary candidates and Ward councillors. “Did any of the opposition parties select their candidates through opinion polls?

CCM values democracy that is why we let members choose candidates who will compete with others from opposition parties,” he explained. Former Nkenge legislator Assumpter Mshama said Mwalimu Julius Nyerere’s assertion that Mr Edward Lowassa will never enter the State House will be proved after October 25.

She said that Mr Lowassa had vowed to never leave the ruling party if he was not picked as its presidential candidate while former Prime Minister Frederick Sumaye had sworn to abandon CCM if Mr Lowassa was picked as presidential material.

However, both expremiers had forgotten their words, and therefore ‘should not be trusted,’ Mshama said. “Don’t give the presidency to such people who cannot stand by their words. They’ll promise you one thing and do something else that serves their purpose.

We all need to be careful because we are headed to a more vibrant gas and oil economy,” she added. At the same rally, Newala Rural CCM parliamentary contender Mr Rashid Akbar promised to work with the incoming government to solve challenges facing the district residents.