Former Prime Minister and First Vice President of Tanzania, Joseph Warioba, has said that Dr. Emmanuel Nchimbi is not a sycophantic politician, noting that his political stances are based on what he believes.

Speaking at the Tanzania Democracy Forum organized by the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS), Warioba said that in all the time he has known Nchimbi, he has never seen him praise and worship a leader for self-promotion, adding that he has maintained this position since he was a young man in Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).

“I know Nchimbi, one thing is for sure: Nchimbi is not a sycophant of any kind. When he was in the party, he couldn’t tolerate sycophancy, something which he has continued to be,” said Warioba.

He said the various statements made by Nchimbi in his leadership positions were an expression of his personal view on how politics should be conducted in the country.

Warioba cited the incident involving the arrest of some leaders of the CHADEMA party, including John Heche, where Nchimbi, as CCM Secretary General, called for the release of those leaders.

“There was a time when CHADEMA leaders were arrested, including Heche. Nchimbi, as Secretary General, said, ‘ Let them go; let’s compete politically,’ said Warioba.

According to Warioba, Nchimbi wanted what he called “small matters” to be set aside so that parties could compete politically. He added that such statements were part of Nchimbi’s stance on leadership and political competition.

Warioba also quoted a statement that he said Nchimbi had made about how to criticize mistakes within CCM, referring to the CCM members’ pledge: “I will always tell the truth, backbiting is unnecessary,” and added, “but these days if you tell the truth, you are dubbed a mole.”

Warioba also claimed that Nchimbi’s whereabouts are unknown since his calls have not been going through following his resignation as Vice President, before being stripped of his CCM membership. CCM later expelled him from the party on disciplinary grounds.