Prime
10 Chadema Special Seats MPs join CCM, ACT, Chaumma
Cecilia Paresso, formerly of Karatu constituency, has joined the contest for the same seat in Manyara Region under CCM. PHOTO | FILBERT RWEYEMAMU
What you need to know:
- The 19 women entered Parliament through Chadema’s Special Seats arrangement in 2020. But Chadema officials disowned them, claiming that they were not dully consulted during the admission of their 19 members into Parliament.
Dar es Salaam. Ruling party, CCM, ACT-Wazalendo and Chaumma, have emerged as new political homes for 10 of the 19 former Chadema Special Seats MPs.
The development comes in the wake of the dissolution of the 12th Parliament by President Samia Suluhu Hassan on June 27, 2025, with several of the former MPs now seeking nomination under their new parties ahead of the October General Election.
The 19 women entered Parliament through Chadema’s Special Seats arrangement in 2020.
But Chadema officials disowned them, claiming that they were not dully consulted during the admission of their 19 members into Parliament.
This led to a dispute that eventually led to the expulsion of the 19 members from the party by Chadema’s National Executive Committee for allegedly defying party directives.
They challenged the decision in court and continued to serve as MPs under Chadema until Parliament was dissolved.
As the nomination season kicks off, 10 of them have aligned themselves with other parties, eight with CCM, and one each with ACT-Wazalendo and Chaumma.
The remaining nine have yet to declare their political intentions.
Defections to CCM
CCM has attracted the majority of the defectors. Former MP Felista Njau collected nomination forms to contest the Moshi Rural parliamentary seat in Kilimanjaro, while Salome Makamba is seeking nomination through the CCM’s Women wing, which is commonly known by its Kiswahili abbreviation as UWT, in Shinyanga Region.
In Mara, Esther Bulaya, a former MP for Bunda Urban, has expressed interest in reclaiming her seat under CCM. Former Tarime Urban MP Esther Matiko is also vying to return to Parliament under the ruling party.
Sophia Mwakagenda has picked forms for the Rungwe parliamentary seat, while Cecilia Paresso, formerly of Karatu constituency, has joined the contest for the same seat in Manyara Region under CCM.
Meanwhile, Nusrat Hanje is seeking to contest the Ikungi East seat and Stella Simoni Fiyao has submitted her forms to contest the Ileje parliamentary seat, where she is expected to face stiff competition, including from the incumbent Deputy Minister for Works, Godfrey Kasekenya.
Moves to ACT-Wazalendo and Chaumma
Former Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson Naghenjwa Kaboyoka has defected to ACT-Wazalendo. On June 28, she officially returned her Chadema membership card and was welcomed into ACT-Wazalendo.
Another former MP, Agnesta Kaiza, has joined Chaumma. She is currently the only one from the group to do so, though party officials say more are welcome.
Chaumma’s Secretary-General, Salum Mwalimu, said the party does not discriminate and welcomes all interested individuals.
“We don’t ask who you were with before. Our doors are open to anyone who wants to join and contest,” he said.
Chaumma has also announced the commencement of its nomination process from July 1, 2025, for parliamentary and councillorship positions.
The party said the presidential nomination process will be announced later.Mwalimu stated that all those seeking to vie for Special Seats positions must first express interest in a constituency or ward seat. Parliamentary forms are available for Sh50,000 and councillorship for Sh10,000.
He noted a surge in inquiries, saying, “It is clear that Chaumma is now being viewed as a credible alternative and refuge for those seeking a fresh political platform.”
