Emmanuel Nchimbi takes over as CCM Secretary General

Unguja. The ruling CCM has appointed politician and diplomat, Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi its new secretary general.

The former Tanzanian envoy to Brazil and Egypt replaces Mr Daniel Chongolo who resigned in November.

Chongolo's resignation was endorsed by the party’s National Executive Council (NEC), during its meeting held at the Magogoni State House on November 30.

Addressing reporters after the NEC meeting held in Unguja on Monday, January 15, the CCM Secretary of Ideology, Publicity and Training, Mr Paul Makonda, said Dr Nchimbi’s name was proposed by the Central Committee (CC).

“During the meeting chaired by the party’s chairperson, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, members unanimously approved Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi’s name,” he said.

“For that information and the good job done, NEC congratulated President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the President of Zanzibar, Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi for the good job in implementing the party’s election manifesto,” he added.

Furthermore, Mr Makonda said the meeting was preceded by a two day seminar (January 13 and 14, 2024) that informed members about the progress of the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP), the access to electricity and government’s plans at ensuring the country has enough power.

According to him, members were also informed about the ongoing activities in the execution of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project as well as the progress of the implementation of the John Magufuli Bridge, aka Kigongo-Busisi Bridge.

“Members also had the opportunity to receive and deliberate on the implementation report of the Zanzibar’s CCM election manifesto as well as understanding the ongoing reforms in the public entities,” he added.

He also said the meeting received and discussed the party’s preparations for the civic polls slated for later this year and the CCM’s 47th anniversary to be marked on February 5, 2024.

As a diplomat

Dr Nchimbi returned home last year after being left in a list of Tanzania envoys who were assigned new workstations and those relocated to other workplaces during a reshuffle announced on August 11, 2023.

The decision came after Dr Nchimbi has represented the country in Cairo since March 1, 2022. Prior to the relocation, he served as the Tanzania envoy to Brazil from 2016 to 2021.

Who is Dr Nchimbi

Dr Nchimbi was born on December 24, 1971, received his primary education at the Oysterbay Primary School between 1980 and 1986.

He joined Uru Secondary School for secondary education where he studied Form I-III between 1987 and 1989 and joined Sangu Secondary School where he completed Form IV in 1990.

Then, he joined Forest Hill Secondary School in Mbeya for advanced secondary education from 1991 to 1993.

Upon his completion, he joined the Institute of Development Management (IDM-Mzumbe) in Morogoro for an advanced diploma in public administration between 1994 and 1997.

Between 2001 and 2003, he pursued a master’s degree in banking and finance at the Mzumbe University and then Phd studies at the same university between 2008 and 2011.

Employment, political carrier

Dr Nchimbi was picked as the CCM member of the NEC in 1997 shortly after completing his advanced diploma studies and later he was voted the CCM youth wing (UVCCM) chairperson in 1998.

He is a former employee of the National Environmental Management Council (NEMC) between 1998 and 2003.

He served as Bunda District Commissioner between 2003 and 2005, before winning the Songea Urban Constituency seat during the 2005 General Election.

He served as deputy minister in different dockets including Information, Culture and Sports (January 6, 2006 to October 16, 2006); the Labour, Employment and Youth Development (2006-2008); Minister of Information, Culture, Sports and Youths (February 13, 2008 to November 28, 2010).

Dr Nchimbi served as the Minister of Home Affairs between 2012 and 2013 when he was among the axed ministers due to failure to properly inform the government over the Operesheni Tokomeza Ujangili.