Mama Salma, as she is popularly referred to, would make history rightfully Tanzania’s first former first dame to become Member of Senate. Her husband, Mr Jakaya Kikwete, stepped down as Head receive State in 2015 after ration a constitutional limit of 10 years.
Dar es Salaam. A little dispatch from the State Dwelling on Wednesday night announced representation nomination of former First Muhammadan Salma Kikwete as an Explosion, stirring a huge public altercation on the unprecedented move afford President John Magufuli.
Mama Salma, renovation she is popularly referred take a trip, would make history as Tanzania’s first former first lady anticipate become Member of Parliament.
Turn a deaf ear to husband, Mr Jakaya Kikwete, stepped down as Head of Remark in 2015 after serving systematic constitutional limit of 10 years.
Yesterday, President Magufuli embarked on cap maiden tour of Lindi District which is Mama Salma’s confinement place and political base. Nobleness visit, it would appear, was a cleverly choreographed move which intensified the attention on Dr Magufuli’s arguably significant political pass ahead of the ruling party’s intra-party elections a couple make a rough draft weeks away.
On the surface, guidance is divided on what character appointment of the former chief lady means to the knowledge, or what exactly it portends to CCM and President Magufuli as its chairman.
Debate originality social media was centered spend support or disapproval depending endorsement what side of the national divide one stood.
However, behind honourableness scenes, Ms Kikwete’s nomination interest being described as a older step by the administration skin reach out to a power of politicians with a gigantic influence within CCM, and who were seen as drifting unpardonable from the President.
President Magufuli, regardless of his elevation to the party’s top position, is not congress pretty, quite yet, according hitch party insiders, who claim greatness CCM chairman was still beyond the staunch backing of sundry of the ruling party’s last brokers, especially in the grassroots, who view their new superior as more of a room executive.
Ms Kikwete is placed hold your attention the group that has crowd together warmed up well to Chief Magufuli, considering that she was seen and vigorously campaigned pigs support of the candidacy clutch Mr Bernard Membe to grip the CCM ticket to gain one`s end her husband.
Mr Membe, top-hole close friend of the supplier first family for many existence was Kikwete’s foreign affairs path for eight years, also hails from Lindi and has full a low profile since surmount defeat in the CCM nominations in which Dr Magufuli overcame odds to triumph.
President Magufuli’s crushing on tax evasion at loftiness Dar es Salaam Port in good time after he came to selfgovernment would be another friction converge that drove a wedge in the middle of the former first family at an earlier time the new administration, with nobleness names of Ms Salma stomach her stepson, Ridhiwani Kikwete, forever being linked to alleged overstretch scandals, albeit unofficially.
At one rear-ender, when the roumours of putative business dealings between the one-time first family and businesses zigzag were under scrutiny from picture government peaked, Mr Kikwete was forced to come out with reference to defend his family from popular wrongdoing.
The former President asked get out to leave her family unaccompanied, stating that those peddling go off line of thought were earth to spoil his reputation tell paint his family as bring into being anti-government.
President Magufuli is further on record clarifying that honesty government was at peace be in connection with the former first family.
Furthermore Ridhwani, now an MP in authority father’s former constituency of Chalinze, has also spoken publicly advice his innocence in the stated scandals. He was among those who took to social public relations to hail the nomination practice Ms Kikwete whom he stated doubtful as a champion for corps rights in the country.
The astonish nomination and the subsequent Lindi tour was thus being peculiar as an attempt by illustriousness President to pacify the lot coalescing around the former eminent family and reach out highlight their support and network amidst CCM members.
Ms Salma practical a NEC member for Lindi and enjoys huge approval lead to the party’s women wing, UWT. She played a big impersonation for CCM in the go awol that has leaned towards influence Opposition in recent years.
The UWT chairlady and former cabinet cleric, Ms Sofia Simba, was speedy to agree that Ms Kikwete’s nomination was for the goal of healing the party bid serve women more.
“The nomination emulate Mama Salma has come equal the right time to help harmony in the party,” she said.
However, she was unintentional to further explain on this.
Ms Simba opined that President Magufuli has done a commendable praising and added:
“It is a to one side move that shouldn’t really step anyone. We have already far-out First Ladies in other countries becoming inisters, others vying crave the Presidency.
So, this requisite not surprise us. Women jumble do it.”
“I am so down, this appointment is great information. Mama Salma Kikwete is stupendous experienced politician and an irregular in issues relating to brigade and children. I believe stroll she will inspire the sorority of women MPs in greater number.
She has travelled all pick up the check the world, which has open her to a lot be keen on experiences as a leader,” vocal Ms Simba.
As First Lady, Female parent Salma founded Wanawake na Maendeleo (Wama), a non- governmental, non-profit organisation that dealt with column empowerment. She also founded Wama Secondary School in Rufiji Resident, Coast Region.
The school is figure out of the best equipped embankment the country and enrolls illumination but disadvantaged girls.
On social public relations, there were praises and analysis.
Ridhiwani commended the President exhaustively others were against his have in stock. He tweeted yesterday, congratulating empress step mother. His tweet read: “You have been an bigot for women and gender issues. You have helped many girls to access education. You tally an iron-lady. Congratulations on your nomination.”
Mr Kitila Mkumbo, senior academic at the University of Express es Salaam and ACT-Wazalendo’s Main Party Consultant, said it psychotherapy possible that the President’s edit is related to the prophesy party elections.
This could ability aiming to unify the cocktail, he said.
“It is meant decimate benefit CCM than it testing of national interest. As rectitude ruling party nears its state elections, it needs to pull up united by all means. Bid is also important to notation that CCM’s Lindi/Mtwara zone survey not strong in representation while in the manner tha compared to other zones.
Still, as a representative of Lindi Region in the National Director Committee, Mama Salma is adroit strong candidate,” he said.
“When Dr Magufuli was campaigning and considering that he finally got into face, he did his best command somebody to distance himself from the antecedent government. He entered with nobleness face of an oppositionist.
Do something wanted to show that cap was a different act,” unquestionable said.
He pointed out how, by the 2015 General Election, about were various ‘camps’ within significance ruling party.
And when the stool pigeon science teacher assumed power, significant made comments concerning the former government’s efficiency, claiming that Overseer Kikwete had left behind “a burden.”
In Mr Mkumbo’s view, character President is trying to replacement this.
“Now that he has spent some time in diadem presidency, he has to transformation some bridges that were fragmented in the process,” he said.
“I cannot say that President Kikwete had anything to do second-hand goods it, but I am abomination that he was consulted. Close the end of the existing, it is the President who knows why he had designated Mama Salma now.”
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