The chances of a repeat of Edward Lowassa's 40% vote share against CCM's Jakaya Kikwete in 2015 being allowed to happen in October are almost zero...
The figure of Rostam Aziz the business magnate last heard of during the height of the influence of the late Edward Lowassa and the local allies of DP World the global conglomerate seeking to dominate Tanzania's ports are often mentioned (AC Vol 52 No 12 Generating power and cash & Dispatches 22/8/23 Samia's response to Emirati port deal critics prompts backlash & 5/9/23 Dubai faces legal hurdles with port plan)...
Edward Lowassa who has died aged 70 was a close friend confidant and ally of ex-President Jakaya Kikwete who spent a fortune advancing his prospects and embracing any part of the ideological spectrum that would help him but without reaching the highest office of all...
The CCM propaganda machine has chosen to honour Tanzanian political tradition and portray Edward Lowassa as an unblemished hero a view unchallenged by even the most respected opinion leaders...
A talent for public – and self – service Stories of rent-seeking dogged Edward Lowassa throughout his career from his first big job running the Arusha International Conference Centre in 1989-90 to his stint at the ministries of lands (1993-95) water (2000-05) and finally as prime minister (2005-08 AC Vol 56 No 17 'Lowassa fever' catching)...
While her personal base in the party has usually been described as weak she has been supported by heavyweights like ex-President Jakaya Kikwete and ex-Prime Minister Edward Lowassa (Dispatches 7/2/22 An eye on elections President Hassan sidelines a challenger)...
Also in this group is the former prime minister Edward Lowassa and former Secretary General of the CCM Abdulrahman Kinana...
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It was established in 2013 by President Kikwete as one of a number of party reforms to stymie Edward Lowassa's bid for the presidency (AC Vol 53 No 10 Lowassa plans his comeback)...
Rostam Aziz who threw in his lot with the former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa as the opposition Chadema's candidate in the 2015 elections has returned from de facto exile in Dubai and Hong Kong...
Hussein Bashe MP who was not previously known for liberal credentials and led former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa's bid to be CCM's presidential candidate has suddenly become an advocate of free speech and the competition of ideas...
As he is out of politics and was close to the then Prime Minister Edward Lowassa who had to resign over corruption allegations in 2008 he may make an easy target...
He has also dismissed high-ranking CCM personalities and many rank-and-file members for siding with former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa's faction of the party and threatened his own MPs for planning to impeach Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa in protest at executive interference with parliamentary business...
Former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa will continue to work quietly with his party the Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) in preparation for 2020...