Former CCM Vice Chairman (Mainland) John Malecela
Former CCM Vice Chairman (Mainland) John Malecela has said there was need for the ruling party to devise a new system of election that would reduce corruption allegations during party polls.
He said there has always been outcry of corruption every time CCM holds elections, be it for members of the party`s national executive committee or nomination of CCM members to stand for parliamentary seats.
Speaking to The Guardian yesterday Malecela said it was high time CCM looked for a better election system to reduce complaints among the members, especially those who lose.
`Mwalimu Nyerere once said that if things are not moving the way we want them to, we must not feel ashamed to correct the situation,` he said, adding, `I think we need to correct our system of getting leaders in the party as well as in the state organs.`
Malecela suggested that a committee be formed and be assigned to go to other African countries which hold democratic elections to learn how they deal with corruption during elections.
`I happened to host Jacob Zuma, vice president of South Africa`s ANC, who was among the delegates who attended the just ended CCM national congress.
He told me how they get candidates in the party and I was impressed by their system. We should borrow a leaf from South Africa,` he observed.
He said he had witnessed elections in some countries such as Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique and Swaziland but he had never heard contestants complaining about corruption.
`We have a problem here because everyone who loses accuses the winner of corruption or of using money to buy voters. We should learn from others how they solve these problems,` he said.
CCM held its National Congress early this month in Dodoma to elect the party�s chairman, two vice chairmen and members of the national executive committee.
The National Congress culminated in party elections that had been going on from lower levels of the party�s leadership since July this year.
A number of candidates, including some legislators, were arrested by anti-graft officers for allegedly bribing voters. Some of them have been arraigned in court.
Speaking at the opening of the National Congress on November 3, the Party Chairman Jakaya Kikwete, warned the delegates not to vote for people who use money to buy leadership posts in the party.
The two-day congress which ended on November 4 saw 263 people vying for 85 NEC seats. On why there has been a rush for CCM members to vie for NEC seats, Malecela said: `Much as I know, most of them do that with the aim of strengthening the party.
If there are some who seek NEC seats to advance their ill motives I am not aware and I cannot comment.`
On generation gap between adult party members and the youth, Malecela said he did not see any problem on that as the party had been increasing the number of youth representation in decision making bodies from time to time.
The youth have been given 15 seats out of the 85 NEC seats, but Malecela said that was healthy because the number has been increased from 10 in the 2002 party election.
`The media is trying to antagonise the party and its youth members. This is not an issue at all. We as a party are slowly making changes. We are slowly increasing the number of youth representation.
Remember patience kills the rat,` he said. On whether he still sees CCM as a party for workers and peasants, especially this time when there are feelings in the society that big businessmen have hijacked the party, Malecela said: `I think you are being unfair to CCM. The number of businessmen in the party is negligible. In fact they are only three (names withheld).`
`But why only CCM? Some opposition parties are run by businessmen. You know them. After all CCM is better off.
At least it is democratic because even these businessmen you are talking about are elected. In some opposition parties they are only hand picked by the leaders,` he said.
On what legacy he is leaving behind, Malecela said: `We in CCM do not believe in legacies. No selfishness in CCM. However, if anything the legacy I am leaving behind is that of a strong party.`
Malecela served as the party vice chairman (Mainland) for fifteen years.
The former Speaker of the National Assembly Pius Msekwa has succeeded him.
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