Top officials quit Tanzania’s main opposition party Chadema over dictatorship and disarray claims

Dar es Salaam. Former senior officials of the opposition party Chadema have officially announced their resignation, accusing the party’s current leadership of authoritarianism and internal disarray.

Led by former Deputy Secretary-General for Mainland Tanzania, Mr Benson Kigaila, the outgoing secretariat said they were stepping back to reflect and find a new platform through which they could continue serving Tanzanians.

In a joint statement released on wednesday, the group expressed deep dissatisfaction with the leadership of party chairman Tundu Lissu, alleging constitutional violations, discrimination and intolerance toward internal dissent.

Mr Kigaila said the party has failed to uphold its internal democracy, claiming that members who question decisions are being expelled without due process.

“The party is being run through public pronouncements instead of formal meetings. Since the chairman’s imprisonment, no Central Committee meeting has been held. This is not how a democratic party should operate,” Mr Kigaila said.

He added that the group has not yet decided on their next political destination, but ruled out joining the ruling party CCM.

“We are not done with politics. We are simply taking time to reflect. CCM is not an option. We will soon announce our next political move,” he said.

Former Deputy Secretary-General (Zanzibar), Mr Salum Mwalimu, echoed Kigaila’s sentiments, saying the party had become resistant to internal critique.

“Whenever someone tries to give constructive feedback, the response is always the same: ‘No reform, no election.’ That is not leadership. It is an excuse for stagnation,” Mr Mwalimu said.

Former head of Chadema’s women’s wing, known popularly by its Kiswahili acronym as Bawacha, Ms Catherine Ruge, accused the current leadership of undermining party unity.

“The leadership has taken a sharp knife and cut through the strong thread that once held us together,” she said.

However, she stressed that her resignation from Chadema does not signal the end of her political career.

“I will continue to hold the government accountable and push for a truly independent electoral system,” Ms Ruge said.

Efforts to reach the current Chadema leadership for comment are ongoing.

Stay with The Citizen for updates.