Chadema women’s wing election heats up as delegates arrive

Dar es Salaam. After the conclusion of Chadema’s youth wing (Bavicha) and elders' (Bazecha) elections, members of the women’s wing (Bawacha) have gathered in Dar es Salaam to elect their leaders for the next five years.

The highly anticipated Bawacha election takes place today, Thursday, January 16, 2025, at the Ubungo Plaza Conference Hall in Dar es Salaam.

Preparations for the event are complete, with delegates and candidates already arriving at the venue.

Today’s election will provide Bawacha with permanent leadership, ending years of acting chairpersonship by Ms Sharifa Suleiman Suleiman.

Ms Suleiman, who also serves as the wing’s vice-chairperson, has acted as chairperson since the removal of national chairperson Halima Mdee, Secretary General Grace Tendega, and 17 other members in 2020.

Bawacha leaders were among 19 wing members whose memberships were stripped off after defying party directives and taking oaths as special seat members of parliament.

Chadema had boycotted the 2020 election results, claiming they were marred by massive irregularities, including the fielding of its members as special seat legislators.

After years of acting leadership, today’s election is expected to provide the wing with a new chairperson and vice-chairpersons for Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.

The positions of the party’s secretary general and their respective deputies (Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar) will be filled on Friday, January 17, 2025, during Bawacha’s Executive Committee meeting.

Three prominent figures are vying for the chairpersonship including Ms Celestina Simba, Ms Sharifa Suleiman Suleiman, and Ms Susan Kiwanga.

For the vice-chairpersonship of Mainland Tanzania, candidates include Agnes Chilulumo, Elizabeth Mwakikomo, Marietha Chenyenge, Moza Mushi, Naomi Ndigile, Rose Mkonyi, and Salma Kasanzu.

For Zanzibar, the contenders are Bahati Chumu Haji and Zainab Mussa Bakari.

Elections within Chadema’s wings attract significant attention from political stakeholders and pundits, as they are seen as a precursor to the election of the party’s national leaders.

Unlike previous national-level elections, this year’s contest sees Vice Chairman (Mainland) Tundu Lissu challenging incumbent chairman Freeman Mbowe, who is seeking re-election.

This has sparked heated debates within the party, with calls for Mr Mbowe to reconsider his candidacy in favour of the party’s broader transformation.

Mr Lissu is supported by former youth wing chairman and Tarime Urban MP, John Heche, who is running for vice-chairmanship.

In contrast, Mr Mbowe’s faction has fielded former MP and Victoria Zone chairman Ezekiel Wenje as a candidate for the same position.