Senior Tanzania MP quits, denies graft accusations

By Fumbuka Ng'wanakilala

DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - A senior lawmaker from Tanzania's ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi, or Party of the Revolution, who was once in President Jakaya Kikwete's inner circle, has quit his seat amid accusations of graft.

Kikwete, who has pledged to root out corruption, faces infighting in the CCM, which is struggling with large-scale corruption allegations within its own ranks.

Denying the allegations, Rostam Aziz announced to leaders in his Igunga constituency in the Tabora region on Wednesday that he would step down both as member of parliament and as a member of CCM's national executive committee (NEC).

There have been growing calls for Aziz and his two close confidants -- former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa and former minister Andrew Chenge -- to resign from the party following widespread corruption allegations against the politicians.

"I have decided to relinquish all leadership positions in the party ... my decision is based on a clear conscience to end these gutter politics and spend my time concentrating on my business," Aziz said in his resignation speech seen by Reuters on Thursday.

Foreign donors and opposition leaders have fiercely criticised the slow pace of Kikwete's fight against corruption. While he has pledged to do more to combat it, some observers say Kikwete's hands are tied by high-ranking, influential party members.

CCM's Uhuru newspaper, said this was the start of a serious clean-up and analysts said it was positive development for party that has ruled the country nearly five decades.

Samuel Mushi, a political science professor at the University of Dar es Salaam, said Aziz's resignation was a positive development for CCM.