CCM orders re-run between Sumari, Sarakikya

Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) yesterday reversed its earlier nomination of a candidate for the Arumeru East by-election and ordered a repeat of the primary polls.The Central Committee, which met at State House under the chairmanship of President Jakaya Kikwete, ordered that the polls be repeated on March 1 on the grounds that none of the aspirants managed more than 50 per cent of the vote as per the party regulations.The CC, which spent eight hours discussing the issue, said the rerun would be between top contenders Sioi Sumari and William Sarakikya. Mr Sumari scooped 361 votes in the primaries and Mr Sarakikya garnered 259. Other contestants, with their votes in brackets, were: Elishilia Kaaya (176), Anthony Musami (22), Elirehema Kaaya (205) and Urio Rishiankira (11).Mr Sumari will now have to battle it out with Mr Sarakikya if he is to succeed his father, the late Jeremiah Sumari.CCM Publicity and Ideology secretary Nape Nnauye told reporters after the meeting that the primaries would be held on March 1 and the results announced a day later. A team of supervisors from CCM headquarters, led by the national vice chairman (Mainland), Mr Pius Msekwa, will oversee the polls. Other members of the team are deputy secretary general (mainland) John Chiligati and Constansia Buhia, a CC member from Kagera Region.After the results of the primaries are announced, the party’s political committee at district and regional level will go through them. The CC will meet again on March 5 to endorse the results.Mr Nnauye defended the CC decision to overrule the results of the primaries as normal practice within the party. “Don’t make this such a special issue,” he said. “As you will recall, in 1995 the CC overruled President Kikwete’s victory against Mr Mkapa (Benjamin).” He also denied claims that Mr Sumari’s victory was overruled due to uncertainty surrounding his nationality. “The CC overruled the primaries results simply because no one got over 50 per cent of the votes as the regulations require and not any other reason,” Mr Nnauye insisted.Mr Sumari told journalists he was happy with the decision since it was aimed at uniting the party ahead of stiff competition from other political parties.He told The Citizen in a telephone interview: “I am okay with the decision since it aims at uniting the party. The votes were very scattered in the previous primaries. I will be content with any results that come out of Thursday’s primaries.” Mr Sarakikya followed up with remarks that he was pleased with the CC decision since it was aimed at getting a candidate who had majority support from party members.Mr Sumari’s victory was received with scepticism by a section of CCM supporters in Arumeru and other parts of the country, with some insinuating that the result was influenced by corruption.As the primaries were being held, several people outside the hall carried placards accusing the party of entertaining corruption in the nomination process. Some posters accused the party of electing leaders on an “inheritance basis”.The senior Sumari died earlier this year. He was serving his second term as Arumeru East legislator after winning in the 2005 election. The by-election will be held on April 1 and is being seen as a two-horse race between CCM and Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo