Joseph Isangura
China and Tanzania have strengthened their political and ideological cooperation following the inauguration of a new research centre dedicated to the study of “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” at the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School in Kibaha.
The launch marks a significant step in deepening institutional ties between the ruling parties of China and several liberation movements in Southern Africa, at a time when global powers are increasingly competing for influence in governance models, development strategies, and political training systems.
The ceremony brought together senior officials from the Communist Party of China (CPC), Tanzania’s ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi, and liberation parties that jointly own the leadership institution, including ANC, FRELIMO, MPLA, SWAPO, and ZANU-PF.
The Chinese delegation was led by Liu Haixing, a member of the CPC Central Committee and head of the party’s International Department, who described the new centre as the first of its kind in Africa focused specifically on studying Xi Jinping’s governance philosophy.
“Today we are launching the first centre in Africa for the study of Xi Jinping Thought. We are officially inaugurating it in Tanzania,” Liu said, adding that the initiative would strengthen political cooperation, governance exchanges, and leadership training between China and Africa.
He further noted that the centre is expected to serve as a platform for sharing governance experiences between China and African political parties, particularly in areas such as long-term development planning, institutional reform, and leadership capacity building.
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The Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School, where the centre is hosted, is jointly owned by CCM and several liberation movements across Southern Africa, including parties that played historic roles in their countries’ independence struggles. The facility was built with Chinese support and officially opened in 2022.
Speaking at the event, CCM Secretary General Ambassador Asha-Rose Migiro described the establishment of the research centre as more than just the creation of an academic institution, saying it reflects a deep level of political trust between China and African liberation parties.
She said the leadership school has already become an important regional hub for training government officials, party cadres, and emerging leaders from across Southern Africa.
According to figures shared during the event, the institution has conducted 93 training programmes between February 2022 and December 2025, reaching more than 14,700 participants.
Migiro added that China’s experience in poverty reduction, long-term development planning, and institutional strengthening offers valuable lessons for developing countries seeking to accelerate economic transformation while maintaining political stability.
Observers say the launch reflects a broader expansion of China’s engagement in Africa beyond infrastructure and trade, extending further into political education and governance exchange programmes. Supporters argue that such cooperation helps build administrative capacity, while critics view it as part of a growing ideological influence campaign.
The new centre is expected to further deepen collaboration between China and African ruling parties, reinforcing Kibaha’s leadership school as one of the region’s key political training hubs at a time of shifting global alignments and evolving development partnerships.
