Edward Lowassa, one of the politicians jostling to succeed President Jakaya Kiwete, has become under heavy criticism by the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi over perceived early campaigns.

Mr Lowassa, a former prime minister and once President Kikwete’s right-hand man, was forced to resign from the premiership in 2009 following a multibillion-shilling energy scandal involving an offshore company, Richmond Development Company LLC.

Although he is considered by many as the most likely CCM candidate, Mr Lowassa has not yet publicly declared his intention but he has said he is prepared for “a journey of hope.”

READ: As the race to succeed Kikwete hots up, Lowassa is the man to watch

In the past three weeks, elders from Bagamoyo, the home of President Kikwete, contributed Tsh700,000 ($400) to “help” him collect nomination forms, saying he is the one who is fit to succeed President Kikwete.

The elders were preceded by another group who visited Mr Lowassa in his Monduli home for the same purpose. Then more than 800 students visited his Dodoma home to “persuade” him to run for the presidency.

Muslim and Christian clerics have also made similar calls at different forums. But CCM publicity secretary Nape Nnauye said the ex-premier is flouting the party’s rules and therefore risks losing his right to contest on the party’s ticket.

Mr Nnauye said what Mr Lowassa was doing was contrary to CCM rules that bar early campaigns.

However, Mr Lowassa said he has not broken any rule because even party President Kikwete, who is also party chairman, had told members of CCM that they had every right to persuade any candidate to join the race, if they feel he had all the qualities needed for becoming the occupant of State House.

Mr Lowassa said leaders who have been visiting his home to persuade him to join the race proved that he was still popular among the electorate.

University of Dar es Salaam senior lecturer and political commentator Dr Benson Bana said Mr Lowassa’s camp has a countrywide network meant to make sure that he wins the CCM ticket for the forthcoming presidential elections.

Dr Bana said CCM is a strong party that has been in existence for a long time with an elaborate ways of choosing their leaders, “but it seems that in Mr Lowassa’s case they are increasingly becoming powerless to stop his veiled campaign.”

In another development, former Chadema deputy secretary-general Zitto Kabwe announced that he had joined the newly formed Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT) party.

The new party is expected to benefit from defections by some members who will lose in their parties’ nominations.

READ: Return of Ujamaa as Kabwe defects to new party

Dr Kitila Mkumbo, senior lecturer of psychology and education at the University of Dar es Salaam said Mr Lowassa is emerging as a clear frontrunner.

“If CCM is going to hold its elections in a democratic way without any form of manipulation, the former premier is going to be the ruling party’s candidate,” said Dr Mkumbo. He added: “The main factor in the CCM race is suitability of the candidate because what I foresee is that the country is going to witness stiffer competition than ever seen before.”

Asked about the use of money in the ongoing jostling for the CCM ticket in the coming presidential elections, the university don said this was “unavoidable as it is the norm even in developed countries like the USA.”

Other countries

“All elections in multiparty democracies around the world are expensive remember that, before the Nigerian elections were suspended, each candidate had already used not less than $2 million. And those who are accusing some candidates of having used corrupt means to entice support haven’t provided an iota of evidence to prove this. It is unfortunate that they are taking the issue in a very simplistic way instead of handling it in a mature manner,” said Dr Mkumbo.

He said the former premier has taken advantage of statements by CCM national chairman President Kikwete that those who want certain people to vie for elective posts must persuade such people to do so.

“As for the ban against early campaigns, CCM has failed to handle this issue properly. That is why Mr Lowassa has been clever enough to use his chairman’s statement to his advantage even though he has not officially declared his interest,” said Dr Mkumbo.

According to Dr Mkumbo, the confusion in CCM stems from the fact that each senior official has his own candidate.

The CCM presidential flagbearer will be picked by its central committee before the name is sent to national executive committee (NEC), for endorsement.

“Once the former premier is picked by the CCM-CC, I don’t see anyone stopping him from clinching the ruling party’s candidacy for the presidency at the NEC,” said Dr Mkumbo.