LOWASSA EXPERIENCING DARE ES SALAAM PUBLIC TRANSPORT WOES !!!

BY DAVID KISANGA, THE  GUARDIAN,  TANZANIA

25th August 2015

Ukawa-endorsed Chadema presidential candidate Edward Lowassa among passengers in a commuter bus serving the Gongo la Mboto-to-Chanika route in suburban Dsm yesterday morning.

As part of his political campaign, Ukawa-endorsed Chadema presidential candidate Edward Lowassa yesterday decided to experience first-hand Dar es Salaam’s public transport woes.

 

Ukawa is the Kiswahili acronym for the Coalition of People’s Constitution, which brings together four opposition parties – Chadema (Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo), Civic United Front, NCCR-Mageuzi and National League for Democracy.

 

The former Prime Minister boarded a commuter bus and engaged with voters, many of whom said he has scored a first in so doing.

 

Lowassa started his trip by boarding a bus at the Chanika suburban centre in Ilala District, alighting at Mbagala Rangi Tatu in Temeke District. He was accompanied by his running mate, former Zanzibar deputy minister Juma Duni Haji, and various party officials. 

 

Business in the city came close to a standstill at most commuter bus stations he passed through, with supporters and curious onlookers scrambling to get to see him. 

   

He did not address the gradually swelling crowds but left that to his running mate, who told journalists that the impromptu tour was meant to address the public and to experience the challenges public transport in the city of four million or so people poses. 

 

“We have come to get first-hand experience of what ordinary people routinely go through,” said Haji, adding that the trip was not meant to grow into a rally and that the party would launch its countrywide General Election campaigns on Saturday.

 

Without disclosing the venue, he called on the city’s residents to turn up in massive numbers on Saturday for the grand launch 

One Mbagala resident applauded Lowassa, calling him an exceptional leader and adding: “Most leaders stay cocooned in their offices, but he has come out to us.”

 

CCM launched its presidential campaigns at the Jangwani grounds in Dar es Salaam, again bringing the city to a near standstill as people converged there in their thousands.

 

This year’s General Election will be the fifth since re-introduction of a multi-party political system in Tanzania in 1992. Voters will elect the President, Members of Parliament and local government leaders. 

 

According to the National Electoral Commission, election campaigns will run from August 22 to October 24, just a day before Polling Day.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN