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Dar es Salaam – The unexpected return of former Tanzanian prime minister, Edward Lowassa, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), gives a major boost to the future prospects of Africa's oldest liberation movement during elections.
After smoking the pipe of peace with his former opponent, the current president, John Magufuli, the veteran politician returned "home" to the CCM because the political parties began to campaign for the ballot, although contrary to the National Elections Act.
Legislation stipulates that campaigns start only three months before the ballot box.
Lowassa- Prime Minister from 2005 to 2008 – left the CCM in 2015 after the party did not appoint him to succeed Jakaya Kikwete, then president, as the party's flag bearer during the presidential election that was to take place later in the year.
Upon his release, he entered the party, denouncing him as "infested with dictatorial, undemocratic leaders and surrounded by greedy executioners."
Lowassa went to Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA, or Party for Democracy and Progress in Swahili).
He ran into Magufuli in the presidential election, but finished second with 39.97% of the vote, compared with 58.46% for the winner.
Lowassa refused to recognize Magufuli as the winner, claiming that the exercise had been rigged.
However, on his return to the CCM, which dominates Tanzania's politics since the independence of Britain in 1961, he spoke favorably of Magufuli.
Lowassa, former Minister of Water Development and Livestock, revealed that Magufuli had persuaded him to join him.
"I thank the President for his love and conviction, and I join him in the best interest of the country," he told Monduli, a city in the north-east of the country in the Arusha region.
"I went home to cooperate with the development and work with President Magufuli," he added.
CCM Secretary General Bashiru Ally expressed his enthusiasm for Lowassa's "return home".
He hinted that the party was starting preparations for next year 's poll.
"We are starting work to build our country and preserve our independence," Bashiru said at an event intended to host Lowassa at the party's headquarters in Dar es Salaam.
Magufuli and Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa were present.
The socio-political commentator, James Bendera, said Lowassa's move was a boost for the ruling party's prospects and a blow to the opposition before the next election.
"Elections are just a formality," he said.
Bendera predicted that the CCM would carry it with a higher margin than in 2015.
"Some of the 6 million people who voted for Lowassa are CCM supporters who were enraged by the party's departure," he said.
CHADEMA spokesman Tumaini Makene told the media that the party was not discouraged by the release of Lowassa.
"He has used his constitutional right and we wish him every success," Makene said.
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