CCM Secretary General Kinana retains SG post in secretariat reshuffle

 

CCM Secretary General Abdulrahman Kinana has retained his post as the party’s National Chairman, President John Magufuli, made leadership changes in the secretariat yesterday.

Conducting his maiden National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting since he took over the ruling party’s chairmanship in July, this year, President Magufuli made sweeping changes in the committees’ secretariat, appointing Mr Rodrick Mpogolo as Deputy Secretary General (Mainland). 

 

In the changes, which were endorsed by NEC, Dr Magufuli appointed Mr Humphrey Polepole as the party’s Secretary for Publicity and Ideology and Colonel Ngemela Lubinga, Political and Foreign Relations Secretary.

Outgoing Publicity and Ideology Secretary and the Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Mr Nape Nnauye, told a press conference that aside from Mr Kinana, others who retained their posts include Dr Muhammed Seif Khatib as the Secretary of Organisation.

Others are Ms Zakia Meghji, Secretary for Finance and Economy; and Deputy Secretary General (Zanzibar), Mr Vuai Ali Vuai. According to the ruling party’s constitution, the chairman proposes names, which are then handed to NEC for evaluation.

According to Mr Nnauye, the names of the new appointees sailed through unanimously. Mr Mpogolo, who has also held the posts of District Commissioner (DC) in Chato District, Geita Region, as well as Assistant to President Magufuli on Political Issues, fills the post left vacant by Mr Rajab Luhavi, who was appointed as ambassador.

Col. Lubinga who was once Mlele District Commissioner (DC) in Katavi Region, fills the post left vacant by Dr Asha-Rose Migiro, who was appointed the country’s Ambassador in the United Kingdom early this year.

Earlier yesterday, CCM National Chairman John Magufuli announced historic reforms that aim to give members a lion’s-share say, thus maintain a clear lead in all local and general elections in the country.

Dr Magufuli, who addressed the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ruling party for the first time at the State House, proposed to scrap all leadership positions, which do not exist in the party’s constitution.

According to Dr Magufuli, the reforms will also be applicable to all its wings and that they are to develop rules and regulations that match with the 2015 election manifesto as well as the party constitution. “CCM wings must work in accordance with the party requirements,” he said, adding.

“It is high time that the party become self-dependant. The available resources must be fully utilised for the benefit of the party and its members.

” The national chairman was equally concerned that CCM, despite being an oldest party in the region, was depending heavily on government subsidies, owing to lack of good leaders to manage the available resources. “We’re here because of embezzlements, poor management and bogus contracts signed on behalf by our leaders.

The time is up and its now,” he said during a televised conference from the State House. The president, who has already introduced cost-cutting measures in his government, said such approach was to be inherited during the half-day meeting.

Dr Magufuli said CCM has indeed been subjected to corruption and other extravagances, especially during elections, saying he, with the support of the secretariat and committee members, must effectively end such decades-long ‘colonic diseases.’

“We will not allow excuses, especially if a party member is implicated in corruption scandals,” he stressed. Dr Magufuli told the high level committee that he was convinced such reforms will take the party into a high level by retaining its ‘dwindling strength,’’ especially at grassroots level where it has recently been performing poorly.

“When I first addressed the party, a moment after being endorsed as chairman, I announced my priorities that include strategically strengthening the party and its wings,” said Dr Magufuli.

He went on to announce that CCM had as of now implemented a large part of its election manifesto, lauding CCM Members of Parliament (MPs) for helping approve some legislations, which include the special anti-corruption act, 2016.

In reaction to the secretariat’s structure and whether Mr Kinana would step aside, Dr Magufuli lauded the secretary, saying the party still needed his leadership.

 At least 355 committee members (about 96.7 per cent) attended the meeting yesterday, with only 19 failing to attend as others had defected to opposition parties.

NEC consists of 388 members. According to Mr Kinana, since its inception, the party has not held its NEC meetings at the State House. The secretary general said the meeting will decide the future of the party that will fly it in the next 40 years.