Tanzania’s ruling CCM endorses constitutional amendments, declares 2025 manifesto ready

The decision was made during the party’s National General Meeting, held at the Jakaya Kikwete Convention Centre in Dodoma, and presided over by CCM National Chairperson and President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan.

The constitutional changes—described by party officials as “minor but strategic”—are intended to facilitate the digital transformation of party operations and ensure full compliance with the Political Parties Act.

E-meetings formally recognised

Among the notable amendments is the formal adoption of virtual meetings at various levels of the party hierarchy. While online meetings have already been utilised informally at district and regional levels, the revised constitution now provides a legal framework for their use, extending to the National Executive Committee (NEC) when necessary.

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

She emphasised that such meetings would only be convened with the approval of the Secretary-General and when deemed necessary, cautioning against misuse of digital platforms that might undermine party protocols.

Board of trustees expanded

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

The revised constitution also introduces a provision requiring written consent from the Board of Trustees before any of its powers can be delegated to other political committees—an initiative aimed at strengthening internal oversight and accountability.

Over 13 million members digitally registered

The meeting also highlighted progress in CCM’s digital transformation, with party officials reporting over 13 million members now registered digitally. Dar es Salaam leads with more than 1.2 million registered members.

The digital registration initiative is part of a broader effort to streamline party operations and enhance engagement ahead of the 2025 General Election.

2025–2030 Manifesto to be unveiled

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

Describing the manifesto as a forward-looking document shaped by broad-based consultations and technical expertise, she said it builds upon the achievements of the 2020–2025 policy framework.

“This manifesto reflects the second and final term of CCM’s current policy cycle,” she noted. “Before presenting it to the public, we reviewed our performance under the previous manifesto to ensure continuity and impact.”

She urged party delegates to serve as ambassadors for the manifesto once the official campaign period begins, encouraging them to educate citizens on its key pillars and development agenda.

Unity message amid internal tensions

Delivering a veiled warning to internal dissenters, President Hassan called for unity within the party. Her remarks followed a presentation of a digital animation showcasing CCM’s forthcoming Sh34 billion national headquarters.

“After building such a magnificent structure and earning such respect, ask yourself as a CCM member—can you truly have the heart to divide a party like this?” she asked. “We must all reflect. Unity is our strength.”

She added that the completion of the new headquarters in 2027—coinciding with CCM’s 50th anniversary—will stand as a symbol of the party’s resilience, growth, and shared vision, calling on all members to uphold the party’s foundational values.