Tuesday February 15, 2011 Columnist Chadema, CUF forced marriage -- courtesy of CCM.

DESPITE the groom walking out of the marriage ceremony, the officiating person, Job Ndugai, continued with his job -- ensuring that all legal formalities were followed in the marriage between Chadema and CUF & Co.

The relatives of the bride -- CCM-- were a little too happy with the marriage, making other invited guests wonder why are they so happy to let go their daughter, was she a troublemaker or is she in a special mission?

After it all, Chadema came back in pretending like whatever happened behind their back was none of their business -- the news is it has everything to do with you, since you are the main players.

According to the resolution, no matter how much percentage of the house you control, you are going to share the official opposition bench with other opposition parties, the likes of TLP and DP with only one MP each. You are also going to share the shadow cabinet positions with CUF, which on the other side of the pond, shares the real cabinet position with the same ruling party that they are opposing on this side!

This is politics, Tanzanian style! We do not wait for international teams led by the likes of Kofi Annan to mediator complicated situations, we do not allow people to get their bread on our conflicts; we mediate them ourselves.

If it is between Chadema and CUF, CCM will surely lend a helping hand and make sure that the two emerge with big smiles at the end of the day. But Chadema shouldn’t feel too bad about it, forced marriages are very common in Africa.

They also begin like yours; clear winner -- then nooo, someone else wants to share. Angry faces, accusations, war of words, sometimes bloody streets, but after some talks on how the cake is going to be shared you all cool down. Look at our next door neighbours, theirs is working just fine.

Look at Babu Bob and Tsvangirai, whoever thought those two could sit in the same room; I didn’t think theirs would last three months. So with patience, time, tolerance and lots of love everything is going to end happily ever after.

The shadow cabinet can be big enough to accommodate you all, just make sure you give them unimportant posts. Just keep in mind that that wife -- CUF -- is playing a tricky game, being a associate and opponent of CCM, maybe you should make sure that the shadow cabinet member from CUF do not cross the water to and from Dodoma, otherwise you may be in trouble, especially that CCM was too happy with the marriage- they were banging the tables a bit too hard that day!

Seriously speaking, the way things are going in the house, I think Chadema may consider quitting the game all together because I fear that the walkouts may become too much; two sessions two walkouts already, next time it may be a great idea not to go back in and leave those in the government of national unity continue with their marriage even this side of Muungano.