DAR ES SALAAM, Aug. 29 -- UNPRECEDENTED political drama took place in the country this week when the Vice-President submitted a letter to the President resigning his post, as well as retiring from politics; and when, subsequently, he was expelled from the ruling party. The Good Citizen (August 27) highlighted this in a front-page headline in thick black reading: “24 hours of political twist”.

The story opened as follows: “Tanzania witnessed a dramatic 24 hours of political twists and turns as Vice-President Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi resigned, was expelled from the ruling CCM, and Energy Minister Deogratius Ndejembi emerged as the partys choice to succeed him”.

Throughout the rest of the news item the writer, refers to ...