CCM Vice Chairman for Mainland Tanzania, Stephen Wasira, has called on party members who won primaries and secured the mandate to contest in the general election to prioritize unity rather than fuel divisions within the ruling party.
Addressing CCM’s District Executive Committee in Kilosa, Morogoro, during his campaign tour for the party’s presidential, parliamentary and councilor candidates, Mr. Wasira likened CCM to a canoe carrying all members, stressing that it must not be undermined by individual interests.
“CCM is like a canoe that carries all of us. You must not drill holes in it because if it sinks, we all sink together,” he said.
He acknowledged that in some areas tensions remain between those who won and those who lost in the primaries, with some defeated aspirants insisting they were not fairly beaten.
Mr. Wasira urged winners to take the lead in reconciliation, warning against arrogance that could widen divisions.
“My advice to those who won is that you carry the bigger responsibility of bringing members together. If you start boasting and your supporters mock others, you divide us,” he said.
Mr. Wasira explained that success in primaries should not be viewed as a declaration of superiority but as part of the party’s internal system for candidate selection.
“Winning inside the party is not about proving some are worthy and others are not. In some constituencies, CCM has chosen the second or even third-placed aspirant instead of the first,” he noted.
He urged candidates to extend a hand to those who lost, reminding them that CCM leadership is rotational.
“If it is your turn to lead now, their turn will come. All of you remain CCM members,” he said.
Mr. Wasira also encouraged young aspirants who did not make it, assuring them that opportunities will open in the future.
“Those who did not succeed are still around, especially the youth. Five years from now, they will still be here, so do not think they are irrelevant,” he said.
During the tour, the CCM Vice Chairman drummed up support for the party’s presidential candidate, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, Kilosa parliamentary candidate Prof. Palamagamba Kabudi, Mikumi parliamentary candidate Denis Londo, as well as councilor candidates in the constituencies.