Traditionally, whenever any of the East Africa countries elect a new president, congratulatory massages come flying in from sitting heads of state as a form of recognising the president elect.
It has however not so for Tanzania. Five days after East Africa’s largest country got a new president, Uhuru, Museveni and even Paul Kagame are yet to send any goodwill massages to the new president.
CORD leader Raila Odinga already sent his goodwill massage to John Magufuli, a longtime friend of Kenya’s most vocal opposition politician.
John Magufuli is due to be officially sworn in on Thursday, November 5 but its not yet clear when the three East Africa presidents will send in their goodwill massages.
Reports indicate that Uhuru Kenyatta will attend the official swearing in and a list of people to accompany him is being drafted.
State House Spokesman Manoa Esipisu told the Star Newspaper that Uhuru will send his goodwill message but “we will have to wait,”.
The delay may however be interpreted as a sign the Kenyan, Ugandan and Rwandese governments might have preferred John Magufuli’s competitor-Edward Lowassa- to take over the mantle of leadership.
In Kenya for instance, unconfirmed reports indicate that Uhuru’s regime preferred an Edward Lowassa victory to Magufuli’s while the opposition had its weight behind Magufuli.
Kenya’s opposition for instance has been granted 20 slots in Magufuli’s inauguration ceremony.
Infact the opposition has postponed the handing over of OKOA Kenya signatures to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission(IEBC) to attend the ceremony.
Tanzanians went to the polls on October 25, 2015 to vote in a new president following the expiry of a 10-year term of Jakaya Kikwete with John Magufuli emerging as the likely favourite to win the elections.
The 59-year-old Magufuli is a long-term politician and a personal friend of Raila Odinga, leader of Orange Democratic Movement, the main opposition party.
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