CCM appoints Makalla to head propaganda unit

Dar es Salaam. The ruling party CCM has appointed former cabinet minister and Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Amos Makalla as the new Secretary for Ideology, Publicity, and Training.

He replaces Paul Makonda, who was recently appointed Regional Commissioner for Arusha.

The National Executive Committee of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), which convened in Dar es Salaam for a special session chaired by CCM Chairman and President of the United Republic of Tanzania Samia Suluhu Hassan, CCM also made several changes to its secretariat, including the appointment of former Arusha RC John Mongella as deputy Secretary General (Mainland).

Mr Mongella replaces Mr Anamringi Macha, who has been appointed Regional Commissioner for Shinyanga. As part of the changes, Ally Salum Hapi, as secretary general of the Parents Association, replaces Mr Gilbert Kalima, who has been appointed District Commissioner for Mkinga.

On the other hand, Ms Jokate Urban Mwegelo has been appointed secretary general of the CCM Youth Wing (UVCCM); she replaces Mr Fakii Raphael Lulandala, who has been appointed District Commissioner for Simanjiro.

Whatever the new faces bring to the table remains a debate, but one thing is for sure: the posts of publicity secretary and others remain a revolving door that keeps turning.

The appointment of Makalla makes him the fourth publicity secretary since 2020, and he is set to fill the shoes left by Shaka Hamidu, Sophia Mjema, and the outgoing Paul Makonda.

Amos Makalla

The former Dar Regional Commissioner kicked off his political career at UVCCM, the youth wing of the ruling party, where he served as Acting Secretary General of the organisation and later held the position of Secretary for Economy and Finance. He then went on to serve as a Member of Parliament for Mvomero in 2010, and in 2013, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Information, Youth, Culture, and Sports, and later Deputy Minister of Water and Irrigation.

Mr Makalla also served in various regions as Regional Commissioner, including Kilimanjaro, Mbeya and Katavi, during the fifth phase of government under the late President John Magufuli.

Though he was thrown into the cold for some time, Mr Makalla returned to active service under President Samia, where he served as Regional Commissioner of Dar es Salaam and Mwanza, where he served until March 31, this year.

John Mongella

John Mongella is not unfamiliar to Tanzanians, but perhaps he is not well known in leadership positions within CCM. His prominence has come from the various positions he has held in government, including as Regional and District Commissioner in various parts of the country. His service in appointive positions began in 2010 when he was appointed by the then President, Jakaya Kikwete, as District Commissioner of Kigoma, where he served until 2012.

After his stint in Arusha, in November 2014, the then President, Jakaya Kikwete, appointed Mongella as Regional Commissioner of Kagera.

Later in March 2016, President John Magufuli appointed him as Regional Commissioner of Mwanza, a position he held until May 2021. He was appointed Regional Commissioner of Simiyu, a position he never held after changes were made on the day of his inauguration.

At the swearing-in ceremony for that position, President Samia announced that she had transferred Mongella from Simiyu Region to Arusha Region, citing his previous experience in cities.

It was a position that lasted until March 31, this year, when President Samia appointed Makonda to succeed him, with reports indicating that Mongella would be assigned other duties.