The road for re-election of the Msalala Member of Parliament, Mr Ezekiel Maige, seems to be paved as party zealots have concurred to have him as their sole candidate.
Eight out of 14 ward Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) political committees in the constituency have declared Mr Maige, who doubles as the Natural Resources and Tourism deputy minister, the sole aspirant for the seat.
The CCM secretary in Kahama District, Mr Sospeter Nyigoti, argues, however, that the CCM ward political committees resolutions do not prevent other members of the ruling party from aspiring for the post.
The eight CCM ward political committees maintained that Mr Maige was their only choice because he had done a commendable job in implementing the CCM manifesto. They said he had improved the infrastructure, education, health and water supply services in the constituency.
Six CCM ward political committees, nonetheless, have not yet given their stand regarding the resolution by their counterparts in the eight wards.
Mr Nyigoti said the CCM ward political committees were free to make such resolutions, something that was not stipulated in the constitution. The ruling party would never prevent other interested members from vying for the post, he said.
For his part, Mr Maige said as CCM members were the decision makers, he would agree with the ward political committees’ decision to nominate him as the sole candidate to represent the ruling party in the forthcoming general election in the constituency.
“I, however, invite others interested in the post to join the race. I don’t use machines to breathe,” the deputy minister quipped.
Investigations conducted in Msalala indicated that the former lawmaker for the constituency, Mr Emmanuel Kipole, is among CCM members interested in facing Mr Maige during this year’s General Election.
A prominent auction operator in the constituency, Mr Eliakim Machunda, is another CCM member said to be eying the post. He got only three votes during the CCM nomination polls ahead of the 2005 general election.