Dar es Salaam. The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties has announced that it will withhold government subsidies to the opposition party Chadema, citing the party’s failure to comply with directives concerning its top leadership appointments.
The Registrar’s move comes after Chadema resolved not to respond to a letter directing the party to convene its National Council to formally endorse members of its Central Committee and Secretariat. The party’s Central Committee argued that the Registrar does not have legal authority to determine its internal leadership structure.
But in a quick rejoinder, Chadema’s Director of Legal Affairs, Dr Rugemeleza Nshala, criticised the Registrar’s statement, accusing the office of deliberate misinformation and overstepping its mandate.
“I have read the Registrar’s statement, which is full of distortions. The powers he is purporting to exercise appear intended to deliberately cripple Chadema,” said Dr Nshala.
“The matter will now be pursued through legal means. The Registrar is not the final authority on legal interpretation, and we will challenge his actions in court,” he added.
Dr Nshala also accused the Registrar’s office of harbouring a covert agenda to undermine the opposition party ahead of next year’s general election.
The standoff stems from a complaint lodged by former Chadema Chairperson for Mwanga District, Lembrus Mchome, who claimed that the party contravened its constitution when confirming eight senior leaders.
Mchome alleged that the confirmation process lacked a quorum, stating that only 85 out of the required 309 members of the National Council were present—amounting to just 20.6 percent participation. He initially submitted the complaint to the party and later escalated it to the Registrar after not receiving a response.
In a public statement issued yesterday, May 27, the Registrar announced that his office would not recognise the eight leaders confirmed during the disputed National Council meeting held on January 22, 2025.
Those affected include Secretary-General John Mnyika, Deputy Secretary-General (Mainland) Amani Golugwa, Deputy Secretary-General (Zanzibar) Ally Ibrahim Juma, and Central Committee members Godbless Lema, Rose Mayemba, Salma Kasanzu, Hafidh Ally Saleh, and Dr Rugemeleza Nshala, who had also been appointed as the party’s Chief Legal Advisor.
The Registrar further instructed the suspension of all political activities by the named individuals, citing Section 21E of the Political Parties Act.
“The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties urges all citizens, stakeholders, authorities, and both public and private institutions to refrain from offering cooperation or services to the listed individuals,” the statement read.
The Registrar also warned that any attempt by these individuals to present themselves as Chadema leaders must adhere to legal provisions outlined in Sections 4(5)(a)(b), 8B, and 10(f) of the Political Parties Act (Cap 258), and Regulation 31 of the Political Parties Registration and Monitoring Regulations, 2019.
In a further blow to the party, the Registrar announced the suspension of subsidy payments to Chadema, citing the absence of a legally recognised leadership capable of managing public funds.
