DANGEROUS NETWORKS

Political networks, which were first seen in the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi, are now plaguing opposition parties, which is a huge hindrance to their political and democratic development since the introduction of multipartism, the Express can report.

 

Speaking to the Express in Dar es Salaam recently, St Augustine's University Senior Lecturer Professor, Mwesiga Baregu said that these political or coalition networks within parties will divide parties and members in the political struggle.

 

Professor Baregu said that these political networks are dangerous to the parties but also are dangerous for the country’s social, political and economic development.

 

He said that there are wings within parties, because every group can generate their own interest in the fight or struggle to get into power, but while they are in battle but they can even jeopardize the country’s welfare to any person or other group outside the country, in order to get into power.

 

“It is good for all the political parties to abolish these networks for the sake of protecting the country’s interest, and not groups of people or individuals who have their own agenda and interest,” he said.

Professor Baregu added that it is difficult to control groups within the party, because each group can generate their own interest and agenda and income, which will be difficult for the party itself to control, a vivid example is the ruling party, they are fighting hard to overcome these groups or networks within their party.

 

He further said that these coalitions in the political parties can generate their own income, while collecting funds from unknown people which will be difficult for them to refund, or how are they going to refund once they are in power?Professor Baregu said that these networks or viruses have now erupted in the opposition parties, which is dangerous for their growth politically, but it will affect the party’s unity and power to compete with the ruling party ahead of the next general election, 2015.

 

About his party, Secretary General of the NCCR-Mageuzi Sam Ruhuza said that this kind of politics is unkind, unacceptable for the party’s unity, because in the long run members will be divided into groups within the common goal, which is to get into power.

 

He said that these groups can fight in the political battle, but also they can propagate or create scandals for one group over the other, which has already happened in the ruling party during the 2005 presidential race within their party.

 

Ruhuza said that it is important for the opposition party to set up the structure into one group, which will powerful enough to overthrow the ruling party CCM in the coming general election, 2015.

 

Source by  Erasto Malila