Tanzania’s ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party has held an extraordinary National Congress and installed President Samia Suluhu Hassan as its national chairperson.
Samia has been elected the new CCM national chairperson by 100 percent of 1,862 who cast their vote.
The landslide victory was announced by member of the party’s Central Committee (CC) and National Assembly Speaker Job Ndugai during the ruling party’s extra-ordinary meeting held at the Jakaya Kikwete Convention Centre.
Announcing the results, Mr Ndugai said total general members were 1,876 and legal votes cast were 1,862.
“There were no votes against her that were cast. Therefore, Ms Hassan has garnered all 1,862 votes which is equivalent to 100 percent of cast votes,” announced Mr Ndugai.
Hundreds of members of the veteran ruling party CCM participated in an extra-ordinary General Assembly meeting with the main agenda of nominating Union President Samia Suluhu Hassan as its new chairperson.
Her nomination is to fill the position left by her predecessor and mentor, President John Magufuli who died on March 17, 2021 at a hospital in Dar es Salaam.
President Magufuli died of a cardiac condition. He was approved to chair the party on July 23, 2016 through the general meeting chaired by his predecessor, Jakaya Kikwete.
Three days after Magufuli’s death, party vice-chairman Philip Mangula called an emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and agreed to conduct another extra-ordinary meeting to confirm President Hassan as their new party chairperson.
President Samia’s name was endorsed on Thursday by the CCM National Executive Committee (NEC) that convened after a meeting of the party’s Central Committee (CC) earlier on Wednesday.
Mr Mangula stood in the position of the party’s chairperson, chairing the special meeting of the 24 members of NEC in preparation for the general assembly meeting of 158 members of the party’s top decision making body.
Mr Mangula chaired the meeting with assistance of the vice-chairman, retired Zanzibar President Dr Ali Mohamed Shein.
President Hassan and Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi participated in the meeting as members of NEC.
It is important for the president to also serve as the CCM national Chairman for the effective control of government and party. This has been the standard procedure observed for decades within the country’s largest political party.
“This tradition within CCM was introduced for the President to have full confidence, control and influence on whatever has to be done,” says Dr. Richard Mbunda a lecturer at University of Dar es Salaam.
He argues that if the president didn’t have control of the party, there would result sabotage and delay in implementation of development projects.
“The President leads others to implement the party’s election manifesto, and she has her own style, so it is crucial for her to serve in both positions as it has been done in the past,” says Dr Paul Loisulie a lecturer at University of Dodoma.
