ccm new rules ‘in line’ with austerity

Dodoma. Cost-cutting is one of the major factors that have pushed the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) to make drastic changes in its constitution and regulations.

Among other things, the amendments, which will be approved in a general congress today, seeks to change structures, composition and duration of meetings in various CCM organs at all levels.

The changes have also been mooted to be reflected in the CCM wings, which will also save substantially.

For instance, the Youth Wing (UVCCM) will be able to, when operating under the new structure, save up to Sh548 million in the management of its national council and general meeting.

Acting UVCCM secretary Shaka Hamdu Shaka told The Citizen here that cost-saving would result from reduction of members to these meetings.

“We will be able to reduce costs of the National Council from Sh120 million per meeting to Sh72 million. In the general meeting; we will be able to reduce costs from Sh900 million to Sh400 million per meeting,” he said.

Elaborating, Mr Shaka said the reduction of costs would be echoed at all levels from the ward.

“One thing that will help us reduce the costs is reduction of the number of members and meetings. For instance, at the national level, the numb er of members to our national council has been cut down from 149 to 109, while general meeting members will be 549 down from 885,” he said.

Two other CCM wings – Parents and Women, are also expected to make similar changes. Under the proposed reforms, the number of NEC members will be reduced from 388 to 158. The number of members to the Central Committee has also been trimmed from 34 to 24.

Earlier, CC comprised not more than 14 members elected by the NEC as well as not more than five members appointed by the national chairman.

The changes also seek to reduce the number of party official meetings. Under the new arrangements, NEC will now meet after six months as opposed to four months under the current regime. However, there will be need, NEC meeting might be called.

Meanwhile, Mr Shaka said that the council debated on the age at which a UVCCM member could be eligible to be a leader.

Proposal tabled during the council was to increase the age limit from the current 30 years to 35 years. However, according to Mr Shaka, after a long debate members agreed that the current regulation which sets 30 years as maximum age at which a UVCCM member can contest for leadership post within the wing, should stay.

“Yes we discussed it. This agenda always crops up as we near elections. There are members who wanted us to lift the age limit so as to allow people aged up to 35 years to contest. But the proposal has been turned down,” he said.