Former Tanzania Foreign Minister joins opposition to challenge president Magufuli

By Osoro Nyawangah, DODOMA Tanzania

After being unceremoniously barred out of the race for the ruling party’s (CCM) Presidential nomination, former Tanzania Foreign Minister, Benard Membe has officially joined opposition party in his bid to challenge John Magufuli, who is seeking second term.

Former Tanzania Foreign Minister, Benard Membe

Membe who held foreign portfolio from 2007 to 2015 is set to become the Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT-Wazalendo) Presidential candidate in the general election slated for October 2020.

As a long time former minister, Membe is the second high-ranking CCM figure to switch parties since Tanzania introduced multi-party politics; the first was former Prime Minister, Edward Lowassa who joined CHADEMA in 2015 and went back after failing to clinch the highest post in the land.

In his statement to the press, the former Member of Parliament for Mtama from 2000 to 2015 said that he has decided to make a stand and choose change.

“My former party lacks integrity, values, accountability and competence to change the trajectory of our nation. It lacks empathy for the people and selfishly care for those connected to power and the levers of the governing party.” He alleged.

He said the choice to stick with the current regime means a continued descent into authoritarianism, infringements of fundamental freedoms enshrined in the country’s constitution, further human right abuses, increased poverty and decreasing access to quality social services.

“For too long, I have laboured under the erroneous belief that the governing party (CCM) is capable of shaping a better future for our children and generation to come; after months of reflection, I concluded that the people of the United Republic are approaching a crossroads in October 2020.” Said Membe.

The former diplomat returned his CCM membership card at the party’s ward offices in Rondo-Chiponda, Lindi Region on July 7 a few days after the ruling party insisted that a resolution by the its Central Committee (CC) to sack him diplomat would not be overturned.

               Membe (in black suit) talking to ACT-Wazalendo party leaders

“Today (July 7) at 12:30pm my wife and I, accompanied by hundreds of Rondo residents, returned our CCM membership cards to owners. I have written to the CCM secretary general about the move and thanked the party for the good things it did to me. I wish all leaders and members all the best.” He tweeted.

Membe who intended to challenge President Magufuli in the ruling party’s presidential candidature nomination, was sacked for misconduct with other CCM former General Secretaries; Yusuf Makamba and Abdulrahman Kinana being pardoned.  

The straight forward diplomat is on record of solving some Africa crises during his time in office.

During his tenure as rotating Chairperson for the AU Executive Council in January 2008, Mauritania and Guinea had their membership suspended after the 2008 Mauritanian coup d'état and 2008 Guinean coup d'état respectively.

Their delegations were barred from attending the biannual summit in January 2009. Membe was quoted as saying, "There is no good coup or bad coup. A coup is a coup and it cannot be tolerated."

In July 2012, Membe informed his Malawian counterpart that oil and gas exploration on the eastern side of disputed Lake Nyasa should henceforth cease immediately until the ownership of the lake is resolved

Membe (R) shaking hands with President Magufuli (L) during good days

Tanzania maintains that the international border runs through the middle of the lake whereas Malawi insists the border is at the Tanzanian shore citing the Heligoland–Zanzibar Treaty of 1890. In December 2012 he presented a letter of application for mediation on Tanzania's behalf to Joaquim Chissano, the chair of the Forum of Former African Heads of State and Government requesting the forum to mediate the dispute.

He ruled out the belated intervention by the Malawi Council of Churches and the Christian Council of Tanzania to mediate as the matter had now been handed over to the African Forum.

In June 2008, Membe spoke on behalf of three SADC countries saying that if the Zimbabwean runoff election were to be held it would never be free and fair due to the violence. Joram Gumbo of the ruling Zanu-PF accused Membe of bias. 

On 2 September he said that Tanzania would like to see a 50-50 power sharing agreement in order to avert the Zimbabwean economic crisis. 

Some political analysis argue that the former diplomat has a lot of supporters within the ruling party, adding to the opposition supporters; he may shake Magufuli well. But how powerful is Membe,  will he manage to unseat Magufuli? - Africa