MWE Correspondent
The ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) has delayed two crucial internal meetings that were expected to shape its candidate lineup for the highly anticipated 2025 Tanzanian general election.
The meetings—of the party’s Ethics and Security Committee, initially scheduled for Friday, July 18, and the Central Committee on Saturday, July 19—were reportedly postponed due to what insiders have described as “technical reasons.” However, no new dates have been set, leaving hundreds of party hopefuls and political observers uncertain about the next steps in CCM’s tightly choreographed electoral process.
The postponement comes at a critical moment. Thousands of CCM members have already submitted nomination forms seeking to run for parliamentary seats, Special Seats aimed at enhancing women’s representation, and positions in Zanzibar’s House of Representatives.
For many of these aspirants, the delayed meetings were expected to determine whether their names would be shortlisted and endorsed to proceed to party primaries. Emotions are high, particularly among young and first-time aspirants who have invested resources and energy preparing for internal vetting.
“We’ve worked hard to earn community trust. This delay has left us hanging,” said one female aspirant from Mwanza. “We don’t know whether to continue campaigning or wait in silence.”
These meetings were intended to finalize selections for:
- Parliamentary candidates to proceed to party primaries
- Nominees for women and youth Special Seats
- Candidates for Zanzibar’s legislative assembly
The Central Committee, chaired by the party’s National Chairperson, was expected to endorse names after lower-level vetting from wards and districts. This process is key to maintaining party unity and ensuring that only candidates who pass all vetting stages are forwarded for the internal vote.
Party spokespersons have emphasized that no candidate has been dropped arbitrarily, urging patience. Still, the silence has left many with questions—and plenty of speculation.
The delay adds to the political intensity of an already charged election year. With Tanzania scheduled to go to the polls in October 2025, all eyes are on CCM, which has ruled since independence through various transitions and reforms.
Pressure is mounting from within and outside the party to demonstrate internal democracy and transparency in how candidates are selected. Prominent figures such as Bishop Josephat Gwajima have openly urged the party to reflect on its internal processes and to allow space for the participation of opposition groups like CHADEMA, which was recently blocked from contesting after refusing to sign the Electoral Code of Conduct.
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“If we fail to be just and fair inside our own party, how can we promote justice outside?” Gwajima said during a recent public address.?
As the nation waits for official word from the CCM headquarters in Dodoma, insiders believe the meetings could be reconvened later this month. Once resumed, the Central Committee is expected to:
- Approve final candidate shortlists
- Confirm those eligible for primary voting at constituency level
- Endorse nominees for Zanzibar’s semi-autonomous government
The selected candidates will then campaign for endorsement by CCM members through party elections—often highly competitive and, at times, contested.
CCM’s internal processes not only determine who runs on the party’s powerful ticket but also shape the country’s leadership in a one-party dominant system. Since 1977, Chama Cha Mapinduzi has dominated Tanzania’s political scene, evolving through constitutional reforms while maintaining its grassroots mobilization and control.
A delay in such high-stakes meetings sends ripples throughout the political ecosystem—from national leaders to local party branches
