Chadema faces internal strife over appointments
Chadema Chairperson Tundu Lissu shows his ink-marked finger after casting his vote during the party's election held in Dar es Salaam on January 21, 2025. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- In his letter to the Registrar of Political Parties, Mr Mchome argued that the meeting lacked the necessary quorum, with only 85 members attending, far fewer than the required 309.
Dar es Salaam. Tensions have escalated within Chadema following objections from party member Mr Lembrus Mchome regarding the appointment of senior executive leaders and members of the Central Committee (CC).
Mr Mchome claims that the recent appointments announced by newly elected Chairman Tundu Lissu contravene the party’s constitution.
In the general election held on January 21 to 22, 2025, Mr Lissu won the chairmanship with 513 votes (51.5 percent), defeating former chairman Freeman Mbowe (482 votes, 48.3 percent) and Charles Odero Odero (one vote, 0.1 percent).
On February 18, 2025, Mr Mchome submitted a formal objection to the Secretary-General’s office, arguing that the appointments were made without the required quorum for the meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC).
He named senior leaders, including Secretary-General John Mnyika, Deputy Secretary-General for the Mainland Aman Golugwa, and Deputy Secretary-General for Zanzibar Ally Ibrahim Juma, as part of the disputed appointments.
Mr Mchome also listed other appointees endorsed by the NEC meeting as the nominated CC members, Mr Godbless Lema, Ms Rose Mayemba, Ms Salma Kasanzu, Mr Hafidh Ally Saleh, and Dr Rugemeleza Nshala.
He stated that these names were presented during the NEC meeting on January 22, 2025, where they were approved to hold new roles within the party.
Contacted for comments, Mr Lissu said he had no authority to address complaints and directed inquiries to the Secretary-General, who holds that responsibility.
Efforts to reach Secretary-General Mnyika by phone were unsuccessful.
Deputy Secretary-General, Mr Golugwa confirmed receipt of the letter but stated that it had not yet been reviewed, "We will comment once we understand its content.”
Claims
In his letter to the Registrar of Political Parties, Mr Mchome argued that the meeting lacked the necessary quorum, with only 85 members attending, far fewer than the required 309.
He noted that the party’s constitution (2019 edition) mandates that at least 309 of the 412 members must be present for a meeting to be legitimate.
“The meeting on January 22, 2025, had only 85 valid members, or 20.6 percent,” said Mr Mchome.
He also claimed that video clips showed 151 invalid members casting votes in favour of the appointments.
Mr Mchome, who is also Chadema’s chairman in Mwanga District, Kilimanjaro Region, called for the appointments to be declared invalid and for a valid confirmation process to be conducted.
He also demanded that any decisions made by the CC, in which these members participated, be annulled.
“We have no issue with the appointed individuals; they are qualified and respected within the party. However, we must adhere to the correct procedures,” stated Mr Mchome.
He added that the next NEC meeting should have a quorum of at least 75 percent to ensure the validity of the appointments.
“We believe in democracy, and it must be followed to ensure the legitimacy of the party’s leadership,” he concluded.
