Mwakwere still flying the flag on his guzzler

Transport Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere was on Monday still flying his ministerial flag in spite of a court declaring his election illegal.

Mr Mwakwere, who met his lawyers on Monday, was driving a black Range Rover sports with all the trappings of his office.

He is considering his options after the High Court declared that he had lost the Matuga parliamentary election by 500 votes.

But Mr Mwakwere said he was ready for a by-election once the seat is declared vacant by the Speaker of the National Assembly.

Mr Mwakwere, 65, whose election was nullified on Friday, said his lawyers had not yet made a decision on whether to appeal against the ruling.

However, he said he was preparing himself for a by-election and expected to be re-elected.

Mr Mwakwere accused some individuals in Coast region he did not name, of being behind his political woes, but said their machinations would not succeed.

“I know those who are fighting me, but I will prove them wrong if there will be a by-election in Matuga, because I believe my constituents still have faith in me,” he said.

Mr Mwakwere said the group that is fighting him is planning to support its own candidate for the Matuga seat.

“I will contest the seat on a Party of National Unity (PNU) ticket and I am confident I will recapture it to devastate those who want to control the province,” he said.

Mr Mwakwere said the race for the Matuga seat would not be between PNU and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) but between him and a group of influential people at the Coast who want to end his political career.

He blamed the group for interfering with issues in Coast Province to seek superiority.

Meanwhile, his PNU party has vowed to pitch tent in Matuga to ensure that Mr Mwakwere recaptures the seat.

PNU assistant ministers Gonzi Rai and Bifwoli Wakoli, and MP Samuel Kambi said that the party would fight hard for the seat.