Joseph Isangura
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who also serves as Chairperson of the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), officially laid the foundation stone for the party’s new headquarters in Dodoma on Wednesday, May 28, 2025.
Addressing party leaders, members, and citizens at the launch, President Samia said the building would be more than just a political facility—it will stand as a monument to the unity, legacy, and ambitions of the party that has governed Tanzania since independence.
“This building will not only serve administrative roles. It will reflect our strength, our unity, and the stature CCM has earned across Africa, especially in the Sub-Saharan region,” she declared, underscoring the party’s enduring relevance in the region’s political landscape.
Founded in 1977 through the merger of the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) and the Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP), CCM has played a pivotal role in shaping Tanzanian politics since the post-colonial era. It was under the leadership of Julius Nyerere, Tanzania’s founding father, that the party’s ideological foundations were laid—centered around unity, socialism, and national development.
According to CCM Secretary General Dr. Emmanuel Nchimbi, the new headquarters will cost approximately TSh34.13 billion (roughly $13 million USD). Already, TSh8 billion has been secured to kickstart construction, sourced entirely from party-owned commercial enterprises.
“The funds used here have not come from government coffers or foreign donors. Our companies, operating through Holding and Trading entities, have generated this revenue legitimately. This is a matter of pride for CCM members,” said Dr. Nchimbi.
He further added that these CCM-run enterprises have contributed over TSh25 billion in taxes to the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) in just the past two years—an affirmation of the party’s commitment to transparency and economic responsibility.
The building will serve as a modern facility equipped for party administration, leadership training, policy research, and civic engagement. President Samia emphasized that the initiative is also a fulfillment of the party’s long-held dream to construct a headquarters that mirrors CCM’s stature and Tanzania’s political maturity.
“This will be a space where generations can come to learn about our journey—past, present, and future. It will be a place of leadership, memory, and vision,” she noted.
The project comes at a time when CCM is preparing for its 50th anniversary in 2027, with the structure expected to be completed in time for the celebrations. The new headquarters is set to become one of the most iconic political buildings in East Africa, not only serving Tanzanians but also symbolizing the evolution of democratic governance in the region.
As the foundation is now in place, construction teams are mobilizing to bring to life a structure that reflects not only the history of a political party—but the aspirations of a nation charting its future with confidence and vision.
