How CCM politics gives insights into forthcoming polls

Dar es Salaam. 2023 has been a year of major reorganisation within CCM aimed at increasing its strength and minimising weaknesses ahead of the forthcoming elections.

Tanzania is expected to hold civic polls in 2024 and the election of president, parliamentarians and councillors during the 2025 General Election.

The key reorganisations within CCM include those announced after a meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) held in Dar es Salaam on January 14, 2023 presided by its chairperson, President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

The ruling party’s statement says the CCM secretary general, Mr Daniel Chongolo was reinstated in the position.

Also, the party picked former Shinyanga Regional Commissioner Sophia Mjema to serve as the new CCM secretary of publicity and Ideology replacing Mr Shaka Hamdu Shaka.

Mr Annamringi Macha was appointed new deputy secretary general (Mainland) replacing Ms Christina Mndeme, while Mr Mohamed Said Dimwa was named new deputy secretary general (Zanzibar) replacing Mr Abdallah Juma Sadala.

Furthermore, deputy minister for foreign affairs and east African cooperation, Amb Mbarouk Nassor Mbarouk was picked to serve as the party’s secretary for political affairs and international relations, replacing Col (Rtd) Ngemela Lubinga.

Nevertheless, for the party’s organisation secretary, Mr Issa Haji Usi Gavu has been appointed to that capacity replacing Maurdin Kastiko.

The party organ also endorsed the appointment of six members of the CC for the Mainland including the re-appointment of the former premier Mizengo Pinda as the party’s member to the CC.

Other appointed CC members from the Mainland are Mr Hassan Wakasuvi, currently serving as CCM’s regional chair for Tabora, and Ms Halima Mamuya who is the former CCM women’s wing (UWT) secretary.

From Zanzibar, appointed CC members are Mr Mohamed Abood Mohamed, Mr Nasir Ally, and Ms Leila Burhan.

While Ms Burhan was reappointed to serve in her capacity, the other two are currently serving as NEC members.

However, in a list of 37 new district commissioners picked by President Hassan and announced on January 25, 2023, the former CCM publicity Secretary Shaka Hamdu Shaka was appointed the new president representing Kilosa District, replacing Mr Majidi Mwanga.

The CCM special meeting held on Sunday, October 22, 2023, appointed former Dar es Salaam regional commissioner Paul Makonda to be the new secretary of ideology and publicity, replacing Ms Mjema.

Mr Makonda who assumed the new roles by making a countrywide tour in style, becomes the third secretary of ideology and publicity since President Hassan assumed office in March 2021.

On November 30, 2023, CCM accepted the resignation of its Secretary-General Daniel Chongolo, who requested to step down after he was reportedly “defamed” online.

Announcing the decision, Mr Makonda said the CCM chairperson, President Hassan had informed the party’s meeting of the NEC that she had received and accepted Mr Chongolo’s request for resignation.

However, the party did not disclose reasons for Mr Chongolo’s resignation after serving the party since April 30, 2021.

A letter that circulated on social media purported to have been written by Mr Chongolo dated November 27, 2023, addressed to President Hassan, asked for resignation approval.

According to the letter, he made the decision following recent developments on social media platforms that have “tarnished” his image.

“Madam Chairperson, I’m not ready to see CCM’s image tarnished in connection to my position as the party’s Secretary-General and the alleged misconduct that I’m being accused of,” he writes in the letter.

Mr Chongolo was the 11th CCM Secretary-General since its formation in 1977, replacing Dr Bashiru Ally.

With his resignation, all eyes are now directed to the party cadre who will succeed Mr Chongolo, with several names being mentioned.

A political science and public administration lecturer at the University of Dodoma (Udom), Dr Paul Loisulie, said witnessed reforms within CCM are directly linked to the forthcoming elections.

He said currently CCM cadres are eager to know behind President Hassan’s preparation strategies, after her predecessor (former President John Magufuli) ‘peacefully and efficiently’ sailed the party during the 2019 and 2020 elections.

“The strategies therefore aim at introducing trustful faces in the party leadership. Those people are supposed to have the ability of enabling CCM to win future elections without applying maximum force,” he said.

“For instance, the appointment of Paul Makonda could focus on winning elections through applications of contentious acts. Therefore, everything done aims at retaining CCM after the 2024 and 2025 elections,” he said.

A political science and public administration lecturer at the University of Dodoma (Udom), Dr Paul Loisulie said there were two variables that are used for addressing political challenges including interests and betrayals.

“There are people who are truly annoyed with things happening within political parties including CCM. However, they opt to remain in the said political parties after failing to establish the fate of their interests after a revolt,” he said.

“It is difficult for a network of people who benefit from CCM including regional and district commissioners, regional and district administrative secretaries as well as district executive directors to stage a rebellion, despite being annoyed with the situation inside political parties,” he said.

He said from what transpired within CCM in 2023, the ruling party stood in a better position to effectively and efficiently participate in the forthcoming elections with a core intention of members to protect their interests.

However, the Udom don predicted that minor changes should be expected in the local polls and 2025 General Election results.

A political science lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Prof Bakari Mohamed, said witnessed changes within CCM in 2023, aimed at building a strong political team that will guarantee victory during future elections.

He said the ruling party uses efficient implementation of development projects and proper management of people’s welfare as another key weapon ahead of the 2024 and 2025 elections.

For instance, he said the Hanang landslide and flush floods catastrophe in Katesh had been properly done by CCM in order to make it among its strengths in the upcoming elections.

“Internal differences existing within CCM cannot be seen easily during election processes because the fate of party members rests on the party’ organs. Cracks will only be seen if party bigwigs will be involved as it happened in 2015 when former premier Edward Lowassa decamped to the opposition,” he said.

An independent political analyst, Mr Buberwa Kaiza said witnessed leadership changes and reorganisation within CCM indicates that things were not settled within the ruling party.

“Mr Chongolo has resigned in a similar manner at which former National Assembly Speaker Job Ndugai quitted. It seems there are people engineering these decisions with similar interests,” he said.

“Social media accusations are not strong enough for the party secretary general to resign. Probably, something is wrong somewhere in the party’s secretariat, but the interesting thing is that the NEC has remained stable,” he added.

He said President Hassan has been very keen on people obstructing party’s participation in the future elections, taking action to every individual thwarting the way.

However, he said CCM has enough strength to win future elections due to the opposition’s failure to capitalise with its weaknesses, noting also that factors determining the ruling party’s victory have remained unchanged.

CCM deputy secretary general (Mainland), Mr Annamringi Macha said implementation of the party’s election manifesto was the most important thing for CCM.

“The party’s election manifesto carries the CCM contract with citizens in leading the government. Executed development projects and efforts to strengthen democracy are carried out to meet demands of citizens,” he said.

He said CCM was stronger to win the 2024 and 2025 elections, refuting claims that there was a huge internal division which is silently affecting the ruling party.

“There is no existing division within CCM. Those wishing the presence of divisions are party bad wishers,” said Mr Macha.

Regarding the secretary general’s resignation, Mr Macha said much has been explained about the decision, noting that there was no possibility for party splitting as a result of Mr Chongolo personal choice.

According to Mr Macha, leadership changes have been there for the last 60 years of the CCM existence, emphasising that there was no way the ruling party would split because of the leadership shift.

Members of CCM’s National Executive Council during a previous meeting.

PHOTO | FILE