The President’s purge on grand corruption has not yet touched many of the suspect associates
President Jakaya Kikwete has reshuffled the top levels of the
governing Chama Cha Mapinduzi, in power now for 50 years, to
forestall faction-fighting and prevent the party splitting apart. He is
clearing the decks, moving old corrupt figures and others, in readiness
for the 2015 general elections. He has been telling friends he believes
the CCM is ‘dying from inside’, owing to the factional stresses. His
problem is a big fall in popularity and authority for himself and the
party, in spite of winning with 61% of the vote on 31 October 2010 (AC
Vol 51 No 23). The win was commanding but the 42% turnout put a
different complexion on the result, alerting Kikwete to the need to
renew the party if apathy is not to turn into active opposition.
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