Angela Normino
Tanzania’s second-largest opposition party, Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT-Wazalendo), positioned itself for a crucial election season by appointing leaders for campaigns in Zanzibar and the Mainland.
Dorothy Semu was promoted to Party Leader from her previous role as party vice-chairperson for Tanzania Mainland, succeeding Zitto Kabwe. Othman Masoud, the former vice-chair in Zanzibar, assumed the position of party chairman. Ismail Jussa and Isihaka Mchinjita were appointed as the new party vice-chairpersons for Zanzibar and Tanzania Mainland, respectively.
These internal party elections signify ACT-Wazalendo’s renewed effort to solidify its influence in Zanzibar and revamp its presence in the Mainland. The party, established a decade ago, aims to regain prominence in upcoming local government elections in October, followed by presidential and parliamentary polls next year.
Ms. Semu, 49, faces the challenging task of revitalizing ACT-Wazalendo’s position in the Mainland, where it has been overshadowed by Chadema as a leading opposition voice against the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi. Having defeated the sole contender for Party Leader with a significant majority, she must now fill the void left by Zitto Kabwe, a key figure in the party’s growth.
Mr. Kabwe, a seasoned politician who played a pivotal role in ACT-Wazalendo’s development, plans to remain involved in the party as a leadership consultant. Despite speculation about a potential presidential bid in 2025, he aims to focus on reclaiming his constituency seat lost in the 2020 election.
The election of Mr. Othman as party chairman aligns with ACT-Wazalendo’s goal to secure the Zanzibar presidency in 2025. As the former attorney-general of Zanzibar and current first vice-president in the coalition government, he is positioned as a strong candidate against the incumbent president of CCM, Hussein Mwinyi, in what is expected to be a fiercely contested election on the archipelago.
