In the recent days there has been something weird about Zitto Kabwe, the party leader of Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT-Wazalendo). Who has been extremely defensive and standing his ground for the wrong utterings of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, as she deliberately or by mistake uttered some wrong figures in the New Years Eve Address.
If this had been the Chama Cha Mapundzi (CCM) party’s Ideology and Publicity Secretary, Shaka Hamdu Shaka. That would have made sense. It is Shaka’s role to make the President look smart and defend her craft. It is the work of the ruling party and the appointed leaders in the Ministry of Finance or the Bank of Tanzania to address the misgivings of the President. You wouldn’t think a critic, an opposition and a supposed rival would defend her. However, Zitto did and he has done to a T.
Kabwe have even used the moral argument and the discussion technique of making it smaller than it is. While also implying that this mistake isn’t important or that vital to begin with. As it doesn’t matter, if the countries foreign exchange is in the millions or the billions. It doesn’t matter if the government spending in the billions or the trillions. That is just a typo… that just how to make a mockery of an attempt to hold the Executive and the Head of State accountable. As she should deliver true numbers and figures. Everyone cannot fact-check and see if the figures are right in a report. That is the gist of it.
I would have also understood this reasoning coming from Director of Information Services and Chief Government Spokesperson of Tanzania, Gerson Msigwa. Who would also defend the CCM and the President. His role and job is to praise works of the government and it’s entities. Just lkike Shaka does as a party official. Alas, both of these gentlemen does what Zitto just did the last few days of the new year.
Maybe it’s tiring to be on the barricades of the opposition in Tanzania. Anyone can oppose and be as blunt as Freeman Mbowe or Tundu Lissu. Someone has to be more gentle and read the room. Maybe that’s the role of Kabwe now. His the gentle spirit and the friendly fire fellow. Who only wants to speak of bigger things like unemployment, poverty and other matters. Since, showing or talking about wrong figures doesn’t matter. Seriously, how can you be this daft?
If you allow without correction things like these. Then your short-sighted defences will backfire, as you have become a crony and a man seeking for office. Instead of actually trying to show yourself to be different from the current regime. There will be no difference with Kabwe or President Hassan. It will be more of the same and nothing ever changes. Just a continuation of CCM and with a ACT Wazalendo banner instead.
I don’t get why Zitto does this and to what gains? To prove that he will defend the government and it’s President? But at what cost and to what extent? Is this how he works as opposition or has he lost the plot? Is it too much pressure and it’s better to become compromised? What gives? I just wonder… because this is weak tea and smells awful.
He better come correct. Because, saying millions and billions doesn’t matter… and is just a typo. Is just a breathtakingly stupid assessment. As his giving way to much credit and the authorities should have come to the aid of the President. If the two gentlemen who his sounding alike these days. That’s what I am getting from this.
So, when are you getting appointed and when is Msigwa or Shaka getting fired? Peace.