Party Rift Deepens as Leaders Call for Unity

Political tensions are running high in Tanga Mjini after a decision by the ruling party to endorse Kassim Amari Mbaraka as its parliamentary candidate sparked protests among grassroots supporters.

The move has left many questioning the balance between democracy at the local level and top-down leadership within Chama Cha Mapinduzi, Tanzania’s long-standing ruling party.

On August 25, 2025, former Tanga Mjini legislator Ummy Mwalimu stepped forward with an appeal for calm, urging members to respect the party’s decision despite the controversy. Speaking to reporters in Dar es Salaam, she stressed the importance of unity over division.

“When the party makes a decision, even when it doesn’t favor us personally, our responsibility is to respect it,” she said. “I humbly ask my fellow members to rally behind our candidate, Kassim Amari Mbaraka.”

Her remarks came just 24 hours after a dramatic protest in Tanga, where dozens of members led by local ward chairman Mwinyi Zahoro Bakari returned their membership cards in defiance. Their frustration stemmed from the fact that Mwalimu, who had won the party primaries with 5,750 votes, was overlooked in favor of Mbaraka, who managed only 80.

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The decision by the party’s National Executive Council to push forward with Mbaraka’s candidacy has left many at the grassroots feeling sidelined. Some members went as far as warning that they would withhold support in the upcoming elections, threatening to cast their ballots for opposition candidates instead.

Political observers argue that the dispute highlights the ongoing struggle within ruling parties worldwide: balancing internal democracy with centralized control. In the Tanzanian context, where CCM has dominated politics since independence, such tensions are rare but significant. Analysts suggest that if left unresolved, the rift could affect voter morale and turnout in Tanga — a key urban constituency on the coast of East Africa.

Despite the challenges, Mwalimu’s conciliatory tone was seen by some as an attempt to safeguard party stability ahead of the national vote. “The future of our constituency should not be sacrificed to division,” she said, calling on her supporters to prioritize loyalty to the party’s vision over individual disappointment.