Samia’s call as CCM hits 13 million digitally registered members

Her remarks came after delegates were shown a digital animation of the party’s forthcoming Sh34 billion national headquarters, expected to be completed in 2027.

“After building such a grand structure and earning that level of respect, ask yourself—do you really have the heart and intent to divide a party like this?” she asked.

“Once we’ve reached such a milestone, can you truly justify any effort to break the party? That is the assignment—each member must reflect on that personally.”

The 2027 completion of the headquarters will coincide with CCM’s 50th anniversary, which President Hassan described as a symbol of the party’s growth, stability and long-standing contribution to national development. She urged members to recommit to the party’s values and collective vision.

The congress also highlighted major progress in CCM’s digital transformation. According to party officials, over 13 million members have now been digitally registered. Dar es Salaam leads with more than 1.2 million members.

The digital registration exercise is part of broader efforts to modernise party operations and boost member engagement in preparation for the 2025 General Election.

The party’s membership figures are particularly significant when considered alongside national voter registration statistics. In the 2020 General Election, the then National Electoral Commission (now the Independent National Electoral Commission—INEC) registered 29.75 million voters.

However, only 15 million participated in the election, of whom CCM’s presidential candidate, the late John Magufuli, secured 12.5 million votes—representing 84 percent of the total votes cast.

INEC announced in December 2024 that it would add approximately 5.6 million new voters in the ongoing update of the national voters’ register, bringing the expected total to 34.7 million by the next election.

Alongside the membership update, CCM’s Congress endorsed a set of constitutional amendments aimed at strengthening internal governance and aligning the party with current legal and technological realities. 

The changes were approved during the party’s National General Meeting held at the Jakaya Kikwete Convention Centre in Dodoma, also presided over by President Samia in her capacity as CCM Chairperson.

Described by party officials as “minor but strategic,” the amendments are designed to facilitate the digital transformation of party operations and ensure compliance with the Political Parties Act.

A key provision is the formal inclusion of virtual meetings in the party’s constitution. While online meetings had already been informally adopted at the district and regional levels, the amendment provides legal backing for their use across party structures, including the National Executive Committee (NEC), when necessary.

“In our current structure, we have installed communication systems linking regional and district offices,” said President Hassan. “These tools are already in use. By embedding them into our constitution, we ensure that virtual meetings are efficient, inclusive, and legally sound.”

She emphasised that such meetings must be authorised by the Secretary-General and used only when appropriate, warning against potential misuse that could undermine internal party procedures.

Another key amendment involves expanding the party’s Board of Trustees from eight to nine members. This adjustment ensures compliance with the Political Parties Act (Cap. 258, Revised Edition 2019), which requires an odd number of trustees to avoid deadlock in decision-making. 

Furthermore, the revised constitution introduces a provision requiring written consent from the Board of Trustees before any of its powers are delegated to other party organs. This measure is aimed at reinforcing oversight and accountability within the party.

Manifesto launch set for May 30

In a major policy announcement, President Hassan revealed that CCM’s 2025–2030 Election Manifesto is complete and will be launched on Friday, May 30, 2025. 

She described the document as the outcome of wide-ranging consultation and expert technical input, designed to carry forward the achievements of the current policy cycle.

“This manifesto reflects the second and final term of CCM’s current policy agenda,” she said. “Before presenting it to the public, we reviewed the performance of the 2020–2025 manifesto to ensure continuity and measurable impact.”

She called on party members to become ambassadors of the new manifesto, encouraging them to educate voters on its core pillars and vision for national development once the campaign period begins.