Dar es Salaam. Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) on Saturday concluded the process of selecting its candidates for parliamentary seats in the upcoming October 2025 General Election.
The exercise was accompanied by a reorganisation of its leadership within the party in what appears to be a strategic positioning for the once-every-five-years event.
The ruling party in Tanzania selected a total of 219 candidates for constituencies and 69 candidates for Special Seats on the mainland Tanzania side. Similar selection has been conducted for all constituencies in Zanzibar for the same positions.
The list excluded at least 20 members of the previous parliament, including former Health Minister Ummy Mwalimu, even though they had won the delegates’ vote in the primaries.
Among those selected are former members of CHADEMA and Special Seat parliamentarians from the opposition party who defected to CCM.
These include Ester Amos Bulaya, who has been nominated to contest the Bunda Urban constituency, and Esther Matiko, who has been nominated to contest the Tarime Urban constituency.
Others include Jesca Kishoa, who has been nominated to contest Iramba East, Kunti Majala (Chemba), and Hawa Mwaifunga (Tabora Urban).
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“The party wishes them well in their campaign preparations for the General Election under the coordination of CCM at the regional, district, and constituency levels,” read the party statement announcing the nomination.
“Furthermore, the NEC urges all political committees at all levels to organise thoroughly to ensure our party achieves a resounding victory,” it added.
In addition to the nomination exercise, CCM, through sessions of its top decision-making organs, has also announced the appointment of veteran diplomat Dr Asha-Rose Migiro as the new Secretary-General of the party.
She fills the position left by Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi, who has been nominated as Running Mate to President Samia Suluhu Hassan in the upcoming General Election.
After serving as Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Migiro returned to Tanzania and was appointed a cabinet minister by President Jakaya Kikwete.
She later ran to become CCM’s presidential candidate in 2015 but lost the nomination to John Magufuli, who went on to win the presidency.
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In May 2016, President Magufuli appointed Migiro as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, a position she held until 2023.
A graduate of the University of Dar es Salaam (LL.B, LL.M) and Germany’s University of Konstanz (PhD, 1992), Migiro was a senior lecturer at UDSM’s Faculty of Law before entering politics.
There, she headed the Department of Constitution and Administrative Law (1992–1994) and the Department of Civil and Criminal Law (1994–1997).
Her many years of experience in diplomacy and leadership are expected to make a significant contribution to strategies and performance during this period, as the party heads towards a general election and faces strong opposition from some sections of Tanzanian society.
Another appointment made by CCM on Saturday is that of the former Arusha regional commissioner, Kenan Kihongosi, who now becomes the CCM Secretary for Ideology and Publicity.
Kihongosi takes over from Amos Makalla, who has been appointed as the new Arusha regional commissioner.
Furthermore, CCM has also made changes to the position of Secretary-General of the CCM Youth Union (UVCCM) by removing Jokate Mwegelo and appointing Halid Mwinyi to take over the role.
