Mrema defends old age in polls contests

Friday, July 24, 2015

The Outgoing legislator for Vunjo constituency on Tanzania Labour Party (TLP) ticket, Mr Augustino Mrema 

In Summary

Mr Mrema queried why his political rivals were criticising him over his advanced age while there were many other aged Tanzanian politicians still seeking parliamentary seats

By Fina Lyimo The Citizen Correspondent

Moshi. The Outgoing legislator for Vunjo constituency on Tanzania Labour Party (TLP) ticket, Mr Augustino Mrema, has said that old age should not be a criteria to eliminate the aspirants in the October General Election.

Addressing a political rally at Kyomu Village in Kahe East Ward, Mr Mrema, said he had been under pressure from his political rivals over his age, saying they have been querying why he was still active in elective politics.

“Age should not be an issue here because even Pope Francis was elected the Head of the Catholic Church, at the age of 85,” said the former Home Affairs minister.

Mr Mrema queried why his political rivals were criticising him over his advanced age while there were many other aged local politicians who are still seeking parliamentary seats.

The long serving opposition leader, who was once the presidential candidates for NCCR-Mageuzi and TLP during the 1995 and 2000 polls respectively, insisted that he was still as fit as a fiddle.

He accused his rivals of undermining his credibility, adding that a few months ago, they spread rumours that he had contracted a terminal disease that would put him out of political limelight, something which he said was false.

Before the 1995 General Election, Mr Mrema, now 71, served as the minister for Home Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister before crossing to the Opposition a few months before Tanzanians went to polls in October the same year.

He trailed behind Benjamin Mkapa who clinched the presidency.

The turbulent politics in the Opposition camp saw him ditching NCCR-Mageuzi for TLP where he won the Vunjo parliamentary seat in 2010.

“I have been your MP for the last five years and still strong to contest the seat this year,” he told Vunjo residents during the rally.

Mr Joachim Mmari, a resident of Kahe East Ward who had declared his intention to vie for a civic seat, said since Tanzania’s independence in 1961, Tanzania has had only a few credible political leaders.

For her part, Ms Agripina Charles, also a resident of Kahe, said Tanzanians were more interested in seeing development taking place irrespective of anyone’s political affiliation or personalities.