The National Chairman of the youth wing of Tanzania’s ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), known as Umoja wa Vijana wa CCM (UVCCM), Mohammed Kawaida, has called on his organization’s leaders to strategically implement the party’s plan to utilize social media in the run-up to the October 2025 general elections.
Speaking during a regular meeting of the UVCCM National Council, Kawaida noted that during his regional tours, he observed that while on-the-ground mobilization efforts have been commendable, performance on social media particularly on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) has been lacking.
“When you look on the ground, CCM meetings, including those organized by the youth wing, are impressive,” said Kawaida. “But when you go online, you begin to wonder: am I the only one from this party on social media, or are there others? Let’s be honest—we are still underperforming online.”
He instructed UVCCM leaders at the regional and district levels to ensure that each district recruits at least five individuals to manage up to three social media accounts focused on advancing the goals of the youth wing.
“Just five young people per district each managing no more than three accounts, one of which should be on X and one on Instagram. The regional youth secretaries must be aware of these accounts,” Kawaida said. “Five per district, and likewise five at the regional level.”
Social media particularly X has increasingly become a central platform for political discourse in Tanzania. Discussions that originate on X often spread to other platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
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CCM’s Secretary-General, Dr. Emmanuel Nchimbi, who is also a member of the UVCCM National Council, echoed Kawaida’s directives during his address to the council members. He urged them to implement the chairman’s instructions, especially concerning the use of social media.
“I believe if you follow the chairman’s directives, especially those regarding social media, and implement them as instructed, all the chaos we see online will be silenced instantly,” Dr. Nchimbi stated.
In 2024, Kawaida launched a controversial campaign urging the government of the United Republic of Tanzania to ban X, claiming its policies were inconsistent with Tanzanian values. Many viewed the campaign as an attempt to stifle the platform, which had increasingly become a political front for opposition politicians and civil society activists.
