CHAUMMA has captured airwaves following what appears to be nothing short of a miracle: from a party that once struggled to organize internal meetings due to a lack of resources, to now one that hosts events in reputable hotels and transports hundreds from various regions to attend meetings.
This transformation occurred following the defection of former CHADEMA leaders to the party. The former CHADEMA members, who are popularly known as G55, were officially received on May 19, 2025, at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Dar es Salaam.
Journalists who camped outside the meeting venue during CHAUMMA’s National Executive Committee meeting observed that, although the event was convened by CHAUMMA, coordination and logistics were handled by the new members who were to be formally welcomed that day.
A point that sparked conversation online was the presence of individuals close to former CHADEMA Chairperson Freeman Mbowe, including his main bodyguard, Khalfan Bwire, who was one of the key coordinators of the event.
Even more surprising was that new membership cards and party uniforms were brought to the event by a new member, a former CHADEMA official, who arrived before anyone else.
During the meeting, several CHAUMMA leaders resigned to create room for the incoming members. The then party secretary, Mohamed Masoud, stepped down, and his position was taken over by Salumu Mwalimu. Masoud remained as Deputy Secretary for Zanzibar.
Rahman Rungwe, Deputy Secretary for Mainland, also resigned and was replaced by Benson Kigaila. The party’s Vice Chairperson for Mainland, Kayumbo Mohamed, stepped down as well, making way for Devotha Minja, the only CHADEMA Central Committee member to defect to CHAUMMA, to assume the role.
Who is pulling the Strings?
Despite being considered a minor party, CHAUMMA, under its Chairperson Hashim Rungwe, has maintained a significant public presence, often engaging in national debates. This engagement has made the party earn some credibility and popularity, all tied down to his chairperson. This reputation appears to have drawn the attention of the G55, together with their supporters and other involved stakeholders.
The highlight of CHAUMMA’s recent political surge was on May 21, 2025, during a meeting at Ubungo Plaza Hall in Dar es Salaam to welcome new members. The venue, which accommodates about 1,000 people, saw attendees transported from across the country, with the party also covering their accommodation.
This development raised many questions, particularly about how CHAUMMA managed to secure such resources, something it had struggled with since its inception. Party leaders credited stakeholder contributions for the newfound support, claiming many stakeholders had migrated with them from CHADEMA.
Most striking was the announcement by the new Secretary General that the party would conduct political rallies in every region within sixteen days.
“I would like to officially announce that starting from the 30th of May, on a Saturday, we will launch a major operation called C4C Tusonge Mbele [let’s move forward],” explained Salum Mwalimu. “We will go to all regions within 16 days, all regions within 16 days means the helicopters will be in the air.”
Previously headquartered in the private offices of Rungwe in Kijitonyama, Dar es Salaam, CHAUMMA is now expected to relocate. These rapid developments have triggered nationwide speculation.
“CHAUMMA, under the chairmanship of Hashimu Rungwe Sipunda, where did they get the money to campaign, to promote themselves, to advertise their party for 16 days starting from May 30 using a helicopter?” asked Abel Majiko, a businessman at the Main Market in Dodoma, during an interview with The Chanzo.
“Behind them, I believe, there is a powerful figure, and I think he is the one who will run for president under CHAUMMA. I can’t say who it is, but behind them, there is someone powerful,” Majiko added.
Many developments surrounding the G55 are associated with Freeman Mbowe. Several of his close allies reportedly led the defection campaign and convinced others by claiming Mbowe supported the move.
READ MORE: CHADEMA G55 and Their Quest to Fulfill Personal Dreams
Some attendees who were transported to Dar es Salaam for the CHAUMMA meeting told the media they were informed that the event was being organized by the former CHADEMA Chairperson.
Credibility Challenge
While CHAUMMA has suddenly gained resources, discussions online and offline reflect a growing concern over the party’s credibility. For many, proving that it remains a legitimate opposition party is now its biggest challenge.
“When you’re a leader, once you’ve become a leader, you must have principles so that the people you lead can follow you,” explained Mariam Mrema, a small-scale trader from Dodoma. “But if you’re a leader and you have no principles, who will follow you? You go somewhere as a guest and immediately grab a broom and start sweeping — that’s not possible; people will definitely talk about you.”
In an attempt to assure supporters of their commitment, Deputy Secretary General Mohamed Masoud debunked claims that CHAUMMA is a ‘puppet party’, particularly speculation that it is helping the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) advance its political goals. This is fueled by the fact that detailed plans for G55 defection had leaked online, three weeks before the actual defection.
“Our opponent is the one who is in power,” said Mohamed Masoud during the Ubungo Plaza meeting on May 21. “When you go back to your areas, some people will mock you, calling you puppets. I ask you to ignore such people when you leave.”
“You can’t fight a baobab tree, you apply a little poison at its base over time,” Masoud emphasized, a proverb that seems to equate CCM to a baobab tree. “Go and spread the policies about ‘plenty rice’,” he said, referring to their popular slogan- the party of ubwabwa [cooked rice], which highlights their proposal to feed students and the wider population.
“And [spread] our strong messages aimed at building peace and stability in our country. Now, when we speak like that, others think we’re puppets. But how can you enjoy rice without peace?” Masoud asked.
Despite the enthusiasm of the new leadership, many still view CHAUMMA as a strategic project of the ruling party, set to legitimize the upcoming 2025 elections. .The main opposition party, CHADEMA has announced it will not participate in the elections unless electoral reforms are implemented. The party was also barred by INEC from contesting any elections for the next five years due to its failure to sign the electoral code of conduct on April 12, 2025.
“I have some doubts about their move to CHAUMMA,” Majiko said during his interview. “Because if these people had been elected under CHADEMA, I don’t think they would have left.”
“They were used to feeding off the system, sucking benefits; but when they saw that Mr. Tundu Antipas Lissu and [John] Heche came in with a different system and direction, people are saying their shop was shut down — that’s when they decided to make a move,” he continued.
While many agree it is their constitutional right to join any party, some citizens associate the G55 and CHAUMMA’s new wave with opportunism amid the current political gridlock in the country.
“They convinced us, and with very strong words, saying these corrupt people, this and that, and they gathered huge crowds at various rallies,” said Paschali Mariki, a small-scale trader from Dodoma.
“They brought many youths into that space, and now they’ve left; tell me, what will they say to those young people, or stakeholders, who followed them and even got hurt in the process, hoping to see justice in the country?”
“The act of leaving shortly after failing to secure leadership positions, to us, that’s something completely wrong as Tanzanians,” Mariki added. “Because their purpose in being an opposition party was to bring development. Now that they are leaving like this, it clearly shows they are pursuing leadership positions, not the development of the people.”
CHAUMMA’s new Secretary General, Mwalimu, has hinted that the party has a surprise planned for their upcoming rallies. Many, especially on social media, believe that the surprise is the participation of a former CHADEMA leader in those events, possibly even in the meeting that the party is expected to hold on Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Dar es Salaam.
