Amos Makalla, the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Secretary for Ideology, Publicity, and Training, is under fire for suggesting that the opposition party, CHADEMA, is raising funds to ‘acquire’ Mpox and Ebola viruses for a biological attack to disrupt the country’s election.
“CHADEMA is collecting funds under the pretext of mobilizing the public to reject the elections and halt the electoral process, but there is a hidden agenda. These people, especially senior leaders whose families are not in Tanzania, intend to use the funds raised by the tone-tone campaign to ‘purchase’ Ebola and Mpox viruses and bring them to Tanzania to spread, to ensure that the elections do not take place,” Makala said during a rally in Simiyu on Saturday, March 22, 2025.
“This is a secret plan they are coordinating, they have already met with some people, and the fundraising they are conducting is aimed at acquiring these viruses. Their intention is that as the election approaches, as months nears, people in Tanzania will fall sick with Ebola and Mpox. This is a dangerous matter. Those of you who are contributing to ‘tone-tone’ are funding the purchase of Ebola viruses so that they can be introduced into Tanzania,” Makalla emphasized.
Makalla was referring to the CHADEMA tone-tone campaign, a fundraising initiative launched by the CHADEMA party on February 28, 2025, aimed at ensuring the party members and supporters finance the party especially its no-reform, no-election agenda, where the party maintains it is going to stop the planned October 2025 election, due to unfair electoral ground and repeated violence against its members.
CHADEMA through its Vice-Chairperson and Deputy Secretary responded to Makalla’s claims during a rally in Mbeya on Sunday, March 23, 2025. “Amos Makalla, you have spoken very recklessly, and you must take responsibility for your words, shame on you. Reflect on this and retract your words within seven days,” said Amani Golugwa, party Deputy Secretary General.
“Amos Makalla is claiming that we are going to purchase viruses, yet he has not told Tanzanians which store sells these viruses and at what price so that we can inform the WHO to destroy them at their source. These are called biological attacks, he is an economic saboteur,” John Heche the party Vice-Chairperson said.
He continued: “He is an ignorant person who thinks Tanzanians are stupid. The government newspaper Habari Leo has published this story. I ask you Mr.Chairman to instruct our lawyers to file a case against these individuals.”
ACT Wazalendo party through its General Secretary, Ado Shaibu said the party will write officially to the registrar: “To set the record straight, ACT Wazalendo will write to the Registrar of Political Parties, demanding action per the Political Parties Act regarding the false and fascist statement made by CCM’s Publicity Secretary, Amos Makalla, against CHADEMA,” Shaibu remarked.
“This statement is not just an attack on CHADEMA but also an attack on democracy and the nation. It is a reckless remark that should not be tolerated,” he added. The statement has sparked wide discussion online with many people condemning the recklessness of Makala’s statement.
“There is a big problem in Tanzania. Questions for Makalla: Who is breeding the Ebola virus?, in which country is this person located, and at what price is it being sold, why hasn’t the government informed the WHO? Makalla is a scholar and a leader. To claim that CHADEMA is planning a biological attack against Tanzanians without evidence is not politics,” said Lawyer, Fatma Karume.
Following public backlash the government daily, Habari Leo retracted the story from its social media pages. “We have decided to remove it due to the lack of response from the other side, as well as concerns and opinions expressed by some of our viewers,” Habari Leo said in a statement released on Sunday.
The U.S Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has listed smallpox and Ebola, as category A of the bioterrorism agents: “High-priority agents include organisms that pose a risk to national security because they can be easily disseminated or transmitted from person to person; result in high mortality rates and have the potential for major public health impact; might cause public panic and social disruption; and require special action for public health preparedness.
Tanzania’s government has yet to issue a statement regarding the claim made by the ruling party spokesperson, who continues to hold public rallies to prepare CCM members and supporters for the upcoming election.
