CCM to reveal new procedure for special seats MPs

Dar es Salaam. As the election season approaches, confusion persists over the selection process for special seat councillors and Members of Parliament (MPs) within the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). 

The uncertainty has driven incumbent councillors and MPs to employ questionable tactics, drawing sharp criticism from senior CCM officials.

Sources within CCM reveal that groups like the youth wing (UVCCM) and the parents wing (Wazazi) are advocating for parity with UWT (women's wing) in special seat allocations for councils and Parliament.

This demand, if realised, would necessitate a redistribution of seats, impacting UWT's existing allocation.

CCM currently holds 94 special seats in Parliament, primarily filled through UWT and UVCCM.

Should the call for equal distribution be realised, UWT’s representation will likely decrease in the upcoming election, scheduled for October 2025.

Speaking during his visit to the Mwananchi Communications Limited (MCL) headquarters in Tabata Relini on Friday, February 21, 2025, the CCM secretary of Ideology, Publicity and Training, Mr Amos Makalla, clarified that special seats are properties of political parties.

“CCM selects Special seats MPs from the UWT. There may be discussions on including women from Wazazi, young women from UVCCM, and how this ‘cake’ should be shared, so we may consider expanding the allocation,” said Mr Makalla.

“We are addressing the issue and before the elections CCM will announce the new procedure,” he added.

Notwithstanding proposed changes, Mr Makalla said UWT would remain the primary body overseeing the selection process while stressing that equal distribution of these seats would not occur.

Alongside the competition for elective parliamentary seats, the lack of term limits for special seats has faced criticism.

Proponents of term limits argue that a five-year term is long enough for MPs to establish themselves politically and economically before seeking a constituency seat.

The original purpose of special seats, they say, was to empower and uplift women.

However, some MPs have held special seats for over 15 years, stirring controversy and making it harder for new party members to compete, often due to financial limitations.

As such, the call for term limits has become a divisive issue for long-serving councillors and MPs, although it is seen as an opportunity for those outside Parliament to enter the race for special seats.

Despite the competition, the battle for special parliamentary seats is far from simple.

Party members face fierce rivalry due to the limited number of positions and the fact that voters for these seats are more easily accessible than those in constituency elections.

This has prompted warnings from CCM’s Secretary-General, Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi.

“I want them to understand that CCM has a system to monitor all actions. We keep records, and those records will be used to disqualify errant aspirants,” Dr Nchimbi said, addressing CCM leaders in Dodoma.

“Unless they are prepared to donate their money for charity without any expectations, they can continue. But if they want to make excuses about things like birth certificates or deceased grandmothers, they should proceed—we are keeping a close watch,” Dr Nchimbi was quoted as saying further.