The CHADEMA Youth Council election entered its second day, running continuously since it began on January 13, 2025, at around 9:00 am. Voting started at 9:00 pm, for members who will represent the council at CHADEMA’s national congress, as well as at the regional level.
This morning, candidates for two top positions, Chairperson and Vice Chairperson, had the opportunity to share their campaign messages with the voters. As expected, candidate Shija Shibeshi officially withdrew from the race and endorsed Deogratius Mahinyila. He had previously announced this intention during a debate organized by The Chanzo on January 11, 2025.
The two remaining candidates, Masoud Mambo and Advocate Deogratius Mahinyila campaigned in front of the voters, and the voting process commenced around 9:00 am on January 14, 2025.
One of the most circulated issues online that created tension at the Ubungo Plaza venue, where the voting was taking place, was the allegation of corruption during the election process. A video circulated last night showing members apprehending Idrissa Kassim for allegedly distributing money to voters.
“Idrissa Kassim was given transport refunds for Bavicha delegates from the Western Zone, and while distributing the payments, it was interpreted as bribery,” the CHADEMA Youth Council said on its official page.
However, many CHADEMA members questioned the unusual way of distributing funds to members, “Transport refunds were given without checking tickets, without delegates signing, and distributed by somebody who is also a candidate in a hidden location. Remember, we are not new to party procedures for transport fare refunds,” said one of the CHADEMA members, Fredrick Justine, on X.
At around 5:00 am today, one of the delegates asked Vice Chairperson candidate Juma Mohamed Nyitu about his stance on corruption in the ongoing election.
“Please tell us the impact of corruption in this election,” a delegate known only as Benjamin asked. However, the question was dismissed by the election supervisor.
“The way the question is framed suggests that there is corruption in the election, which means you will later need to provide evidence. If you don’t have evidence, this is not the right time,” the election supervisor replied, causing a three-minute dispute with the questioner, who refused to sit down.
The outgoing Chairperson, John Pambalu, had warned about corruption in the Youth Council election in his speech yesterday.
“Politics cannot be separated from morality. If you choose people and forget about their character and morality, you are not fit to be the opposition in our country,” Pambalu said, as the crowd cheered. “We do not defeat CCM because we have more resources to defeat them, but because we have a difference in character and morality.”
He continued: “If you choose people not based on their qualities, abilities, or values, but because they gave you money and told you to choose them, then you are no different from those who killed Alphonce Mawazo. Such actions will not earn you the acceptance of the people, and God will not grant you His approval.”
Some members have alleged that various strategies are being used to distribute money to voters, including the involvement of vendors outside the election venue as well as the use of washing rooms in the venue.
Yesterday members refused to go on with any processes until the party provided funding for their upkeep for those coming outside Dar es Salaam citing that delays were causing members who have no means to be lured by corrupt individuals. The party was able to provide funding as required, leading to election processes to start at around 9:00 pm.
The election atmosphere is growing increasingly tense, especially due to the two competing camps: Masoud Mambo, supported by Mbowe’s camp, and Advocate Deogratius Mahinyila, supported by Tundu Lissu’s camp.
Heavyweights from Mbowe’s team, including Ezekia Wenje, CHADEMA’s Lake Zone Chairperson and candidate for Vice Chairperson, and Boniface Jacob, Pwani Zone Chairperson, were seen camping outside the venue. This morning, a commotion erupted outside when members demanded that Daniel Naftal, the campaign manager for Team Mbowe, leave the venue after he was seen wandering around.
