Chama Cha Mapinduzi

History

The party was created on 5 February 1977, under the leadership of Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the Founding Father of Tanzania (then Tanganyika) through the merger of the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU), the ruling party in Tanganyika, and the Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP), the ruling party in Zanzibar.

TANU/CCM has dominated the politics of Tanzania since the independence of Tanganyika in 1961. Due to the merger with the ASP, from 1977 it has also been the ruling party in Zanzibar, though there its grip on power has been more contested since the mid 1990s by the Civic United Front (CUF) which was later superseded in dominance on the islands by the Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT).

From its formation in 1977 until 1992, it was the only legally permitted party in the country. Every five years, its national chairman was automatically elected to a five-year term as president; he was confirmed in office via a referendum. At the same time, voters were presented with two CCM candidates for the National Assembly or Bunge. This changed on 1 July 1992, when amendments to the Constitution and a number of laws permitting and regulating the formation and operations of more than one political party were enacted by the National Assembly.

The CCM's Zanzibar branch (the former ASP) has historically been significantly more authoritarian than its mainland counterpart, a situation that has remained the case even after opposition parties were legalized in 1992.

Ideology

Originally a champion of African socialism, upholder of the system of collectivized agriculture known as Ujamaa and firmly oriented to the left, today the CCM espouses a more mixed economic approach. CCM hopes to continue to modernize in order to ensure:

1. Increased productivity which would boost the country's revenue
2. Increased employment and improved management
3. Acquisition of new and modern technology
4. Increased and expanded local and international markets for our products, and;
5. Improved and strengthened private sector serving as the engine of the national economy while the government sharpens its focus on provision of social services, infrastructure, security and governance of the state.

Similarly, the CCM's major foreign policy focus is economic diplomacy within the international system, and peaceful coexistence with neighbors.

Electoral performance and support base

The CCM has a leading role in society, and had held power even after opposition parties were legalized. Empirical analysis has shown that a sense of nostalgia for a party which brought independence, and which has maintained relative peace is a major cause of the CCM's support base; age had no significant determinant on loyalty to the CCM. The party has strong support from subsistence farmers.

The party has won all presidential elections at both the national level and in Zanzibar at the autonomous level under the multi-party system: 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020, and 2025. Its candidate has only dropped below 60 percent once, in 2015. It also dominates the legislature, maintaining a supermajority even in the multiparty era.

In the elections for Zanzibar's presidency and House of Representatives, held on 30 October 2005, incumbent president and CCM candidate Amani Abeid Karume won with 53% of the vote, while the party won 30 seats out of 50.

In the national elections for Tanzania's presidency and National Assembly, held on 14 December 2005, Foreign Minister and CCM candidate Jakaya Kikwete won with 80.28% of the vote. Out of the 232 seats filled through direct election, the CCM won 206.

On 31 October 2010, Jakaya Kikwete was reelected president with 61% of the vote, while CCM obtained 186 out of the 239 directly elected seats.

CCM was admitted into the Socialist International as a full member at the SI's spring congress on 4–5 February 2013.

On 30 October 2015 John Magufuli of CCM won the election with 58% of the vote, to date the lowest vote share claimed by the CCM or its predecessors.

In the 2020 Tanzanian general election, incumbent president and CCM nominee for president John Magufuli secured reelection with over 84% of the vote, making it the party's largest victory ever since the multi-party system was introduced in 1992. However, the election was held in the midst of significant democratic backsliding and repression, as Magufuli's presidency was characterized by unprecedented attacks on the opposition, civil society and press.

Leadership

Current leaders

Samia Suluhu Hassan is the current Chairperson of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi following the death of John Pombe Magufuli, the former Chairman and President of United Republic of Tanzania.

National leaders

• Chairwoman: Samia Suluhu Hassan
• Vice Chairman Zanzibar: Hussein Mwinyi
• Vice Chairman Mainland: Stephen Wasira
• Secretary General: Asha-Rose Migiro
• Deputy Secretary General Zanzibar: Mohammed Mohammed
• Deputy Secretary General Mainland: Anamringi Macha
• Secretary for Organisation: Issa Ussi
• Secretary for Party Ideology and Publicity: Amoss Makalla
• Secretary for Party Affairs and International Relations: Ambassador Rabiah
• Secretary for Economic Affairs and Finance: Dr. Frank George Haule Hawassi
• Secretary General Wazazi – Ally hapi
• Secretary General UWT – Jokate Mwegelo
• Secretary General UVCCM – Jokate U. Mwegelo

;National Chairman

;National Vice Chairman (Mainland)

;National Vice Chairman (Zanzibar)

;Secretaries General

Election results

Presidential elections

Bunge elections

References

References

1. "Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) has recorded numerous achievements including registering a total of 12 million members since 1977, the ruling party's Secretary General Daniel Chongolo has said in Musoma, Mara.>>>bit.ly/3LewXok @ccm_tanzania".
2. (12 December 2023). "Tanzania's Political Pillar – an In-depth Look at Chama Cha Mapinduzi". Michuzi blog.
3. (2023-03-20). "Tanzanian ruling party women’s wing demands castration of homosexuals".
4. (17 November 2020). "Tanzania: 2020 presidential election". House of Commons Library.
5. O'Gorman, Melanie. (26 April 2012). "Why the CCM won't lose: the roots of single-party dominance in Tanzania". [[Journal of Contemporary African Studies]].
6. Manson, Katrina. (30 September 2013). "Three issues loom over Tanzania's political scene". [[Financial Times]].
7. (2021). "Tanzania: The Roots of Repression". [[Journal of Democracy]].
8. "GAZETI TOLEO MAALUM LA JAMHURI YA MUUNGANO WA TANZANIA".
9. Dickovick, J. Tyler. (2008). "The World Today Series: Africa 2012". Stryker-Post Publications.
10. (2012). "Why the CCM won't lose: The roots of single-party dominance in Tanzania". Journal of Contemporary African Studies.
11. (5 November 2010). "Tanzania election: Jakaya Kikwete re-elected president". BBC News.
12. (February 2013). "Decisions of the Council". [[Socialist International]].
13. (5 February 2021). "Unfinished Business: Magufuli's Autocratic Rule in Tanzania".