Tanzania: New leadership code for CCM

President Jakaya Kikwete (pictured), who is also CCM National Chairman, announced this yesterday at the opening of the international conference on social justice held at the White Sands Hotel in Dar es Salaam.

“Ever since businessmen and women were allowed to hold posts in the government and CCM, we are witnessing a lot of conflicts of interest. This is the reason why we have seen the need for a new leadership code,” he said.

Mr Kikwete said in 1991, CCM reviewed its leadership code in line with the country’s new economic direction, but challenges had since emerged which needed to be addressed.

The conference that has attracted participants from Eastern and Southern African countries is organized by the CCM Youth Wing (UVCCM) and German Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) to stimulate dialogue on the role of the youth in politics.

President Kikwete said social justice and economic development would remain a far-fetched dream if leaders, especially the youth were not committed and fail to adhere to ethics.

He urged the youth to remain vigilant and committed to national values as they rise to higher leadership positions.

Mr Kikwete applauded the convening of the conference saying that it was an opportunity to forge coalitions at personal and party levels. He advised that the meetings should be organised regularly.

UVCCM Chairman Masauni Hamad Masauni announced that as per recommendations from the previous conference, a youth movement had been prepared and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would soon be signed by representatives of 23 political parties.

Mr Masauni said UVCCM had been given the mandate of laying down the foundation of the movement.

The FES Resident Representative, Mr Peter Haussler, said that the forum was a contribution to shape leaders in the war against graft and other vices in the society.

Mr Haussler described President Kikwete as an example of a good leader in the war against disease, ignorance and poverty.

He paid tribute the Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, for pioneering the war shortly after the country’s independence.

“This is a crucial undertaking, particularly in these difficult times, when many people dream of becoming rich quickly, while others try hard to be capitalists,” he said.

He stressed that the code of conduct for political leaders was not outdated and that it was still a tool to achieve good governance and contribute to more social justice and needed to be considered, followed and implemented.

A Kenyan delegate, Mr Kepta Ombati, said it was high time for leaders of the older generation to realise that their time was over and pave the way for the ‘new blood’.

Mr Ombati said that political parties and governments needed to allocate more room for young leaders and new ideas.

He said the 21st century needed to address issues pertaining to democracy and ensuring that economic benefits were for the whole community and not just a few.

CCM and FES partnership was initiated in 1969 by Mwalimu Nyerere and former Chancellor of the Federal Republic of German and chairperson of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dr Willy Brandt.

Daily News