CCM’s campaign is anchored on a message of continuity and stability, with Dr Mwinyi urging Zanzibaris to consolidate the progress achieved under his administration while safeguarding peace and unity.
ACT-Wazalendo leaders believe the October polls present a historic chance to break with the past and deliver a people-centered government that prioritises accountability, equity, and economic opportunity.
Zanzibar. The race for Zanzibar’s presidency officially began on Saturday, September 13, 2025, as the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and opposition ACT-Wazalendo launched their campaigns in grand style, setting the stage for a fierce contest ahead of the October 29 general election.
At Mnazi Mmoja Grounds in Unguja, CCM showcased its traditional might with a show of force and spectacle.
The party’s Zanzibar presidential candidate, Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, flanked by former Revolutionary Government president Dr Ali Mohammed Shein and other senior figures, presided over the launch.
In a dramatic display, a helicopter emblazoned with CCM’s green-and-gold symbols circled above the packed grounds, also swooping over nearby city neighborhoods.
The spectacle stirred excitement among thousands of supporters, who cheered and waved as the aircraft looped repeatedly before soaring high into the sky.
CCM’s campaign is anchored on a message of continuity and stability, with Dr Mwinyi urging Zanzibaris to consolidate the progress achieved under his administration while safeguarding peace and unity.
Meanwhile, across the archipelago in Chake Chake, Pemba, opposition party ACT-Wazalendo staged its campaign launch at Tibirinzi Grounds.
Senior leaders, including former party leader Zitto Kabwe, current leader Dorothy Semu, and presidential candidate Othman Masoud Othman, rallied supporters with a call for total transformation of Zanzibar’s governance and economy.
ACT-Wazalendo leaders believe the October polls present a historic chance to break with the past and deliver a people-centered government that prioritises accountability, equity, and economic opportunity.
The twin campaign launches underscore what is at stake in Zanzibar: CCM urging voters to preserve stability through tested leadership. At the same time, ACT-Wazalendo appeals for sweeping change and a new direction.
With just six weeks to the polls, today’s events marked the formal start of what is expected to be one of Zanzibar’s most closely watched and hotly contested campaigns in recent history.
