Several Political parties from Africa and outside Africa have expressed solidarity with Tanzania’s ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), during its congress to launch the party’s new election manifesto today, May 30, 2025.
These include ruling parties from Eastern and Southern Africa—such as those in Ethiopia, Burundi, Uganda, Rwanda, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Angola, and South Africa—as well as from outside the continent, including the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) from North Korea, and the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF).
Speaking during the function, a representative of the Chinese Communist Party recounted the historical ties between China and Tanzania and reaffirmed its support for the CCM against foreign interests.
“High-level exchanges between our two parties have maintained good momentum. Each year, almost 200 political cadres and talents from various fields are invited to China for exchange on such topics as party capacity building and poverty alleviation,” a CCP representative said.
The CCP also praised CCM’s achievements across various sectors, particularly infrastructure development, and referenced the strategic projects undertaken in recent years.
“Over the past five years, historic and unprecedented achievements have already been scored by the CCM government through the honest implementation of the CCM manifesto 2020–2025,” the representative said. “This morning, the new CCM election manifesto 2025–2030 will be unveiled, which will lay out the blueprint and road map for Tanzanian development in the upcoming five years.”
He added:“China will continue to support Tanzania in fighting against foreign interests and safeguarding sovereignty and development interests.”
In response, Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who also serves as CCM Chairperson, acknowledged the impact of the party’s exchanges with China.
“Some of the things we learned are what brought about the transformation in this party. We go there and learn, and we implement what we have learned, and that has brought about this transformation,” President Samia said.
The representative of Russia’s Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) argued that the ruling parties in Southern Africa are under attack, citing elections in South Africa, Namibia, and Mozambique.
“Now the forces of apartheid and colonialism have been defeated in Southern Africa. But the former colonial powers didn’t stop at that. They did not recognize the defeat,” he said.
“The recent developments in Southern Africa, the attempts by the hostile powers to topple progressive governments during the elections in Mozambique, South Africa, and Namibia, are clear evidence that they are still trying. But the people of South Africa, Mozambique, and Namibia defeated these attempts,” he explained.
“And your victory at the forthcoming elections is not going to be only your victory. It will be a major contribution to peace and stability in Southern Africa in general,” he emphasized.
The message of election victory in the upcoming election was also echoed by the representative from North Korea, Ambassador Kim Soo.
“Workers’ Party of Korea and People of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea appreciate very much the success and development in Tanzania under the leadership of CCM,” he said.
“We are quite sure CCM, through its achievement, organization strength, and good election manifesto, will get more trust and support from [the people], which will lead to the CCM’s overwhelming landslide victory in the coming general election. And it will also guarantee continuous peace and development, and prosperity in Tanzania,” he said.
The attendance and messages of the three parties, together with other ruling parties connected to CCM through ties during the independence struggle, outline CCM’s hedging of international support ahead of the 2025 polls. The planned election is already marred with controversies, especially because the main opposition party in the country, CHADEMA, is barred from participating, and its chairperson, Tundu Lissu, who is also the former presidential candidate, remains in prison, charged with treason.
It also outlines the resumption of the geopolitical divide with Russia and China, strengthening historical political ties in Africa and Asia, amidst the geopolitical divide, with Tanzania inclining to the East for international support, ahead of the anticipated polls.
