Joseph Isangura
A growing rift within Tanzania’s largest opposition party, Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), has spilled into the open as senior officials in the party’s Zanzibar branch announced their resignation, accusing the national leadership of marginalization and deliberate neglect.
Speaking at a press conference held in Zanzibar, the island region that has long felt politically sidelined, secretariat members said they had not been consulted or involved in any strategic meetings since the party’s new leadership came into office earlier this year.
Haji Abeid Haji, formerly the head of Chadema’s department for Organization, Training, Policy, and Elections, accused the current leadership of ignoring Zanzibar entirely.
“There’s no strategy, no communication. We’ve never been called to a meeting or asked to contribute to any plan for Chadema in Zanzibar,” Haji told reporters. “It feels as though we’ve been completely written off.”
He specifically criticized the newly appointed Deputy Secretary-General for Zanzibar, Wakili Ali Ibrahim Juma, saying the official has not visited the party office nor held a single session with the secretariat since his appointment.
According to Haji, tensions worsened when Juma allegedly accused some party staff of continued loyalty to Salum Mwalimu, the former Deputy Secretary-General, sparking internal divisions and eroding morale.
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“He said we are still with Salum Mwalimu. That’s discrimination,” Haji added. “It’s clear he doesn’t want to work with the team he found here.”
The frustrations have led to a full-blown fallout, with the disgruntled leaders confirming they are stepping down from their roles and severing ties with the party.
This development adds to recent waves of resignations from Chadema’s national leadership. Over the past few months, high-ranking figures like Catherine Ruge, Julius Mwita, and John Mrema have also walked away, accusing the leadership of fostering a culture of exclusion and authoritarianism.
Chadema’s Deputy Secretary-General for Mainland Tanzania, Amani Golugwa, responded to the wave of resignations by downplaying their significance. “The party remains united,” he said. “We’ve lost nothing.”
Political observers say the string of resignations, especially coming from both the Isles and the mainland, could have serious implications for Chadema ahead of the 2025 general election. The election is expected to pit opposition parties against the long-standing ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), which has been in power since Tanzania’s independence in 1961.
Tanzania’s multiparty system, reintroduced in the 1990s (source), has faced periodic criticism over unequal electoral conditions and weak opposition structures. With CHADEMA grappling with internal conflict, its ability to unify and present a formidable challenge to CCM may now be in question.
