Kikwete rises against �Mma V� for AU
Tefo Pheage | Tuesday July 26, 2016 18:00
Venson-Moitoi recently won the first round of the elections but could not attain the required two-thirds majority to grab the AU’s top post, after 20 heads of state from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) abstained from the vote. The heads of state reportedly abstained as a “vote of no confidence” in all the candidates and in a show of support for Kikwete, who was reportedly being urged to stand.
ECOWAS leaders are believed to be behind Kikwete’s arrival and in leaks and interviews before the recent aborted election, various sources from that region said leaders would push for elections to be postponed until their desired candidate came forward.
The AU chairmanship will now be decided in January after the recent round of votes failed to yield an outright winner.
Should he proceed to contest, Kikwete who succeeded Benjamin Mkapa, will break away from the SADC resolution to go with the Botswana candidate, a move that may further harm Venson-Moitoi and divide the votes.
Media reports however suggest that Kikwete does not enjoy the support of Tanzania’s president, John Magufuli. The reports also suggested that a neighbour to Botswana, whose commitment to Venson-Moitoi is questionable, is also behind Kikwete ascendance as an opponent to Venson-Moitoi.
Yesterday, Venson-Moitoi told Mmegi that he has not received anything official on Kikwete.
“I therefore cannot comment on unofficial reports,” she said in a brief interview with Mmegi, further adding that if true the move would be “unfortunate” from a fellow SADC member. Kikwete, who is hailed as outgoing, down to earth, accessible and media friendly, is a professional economist who has previously served as head of regional organisations such as the AU and SADC.
A former finance minister of Tanzania, Kikwete spent a decade as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation before being elected President of the United Republic of Tanzania. Efforts to secure a comment from the Embassy of Tanzania were futile at the time of going to press.