Despite backlash, Gwajima not barred from 2025 re-election bid

Dar es Salaam. The ruling CCM in Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam Region, has clarified that Kawe MP Bishop Josephat Gwajima remains eligible to seek re-election, despite controversy surrounding the recent deregistration of his church.

The party said Bishop Gwajima is free to collect nomination forms and contest for the CCM ticket in the Kawe constituency ahead of the 2025 General Election.

The clarification comes as CCM prepares to open the nomination process for parliamentary and councillorship aspirants.

Speaking to The Citizen’s sister newspaper, Mwananchi on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, following an internal party meeting, Kinondoni District CCM chairman, Mr Shaweji Mkumbura, said all party members, including Bishop Gwajima, are entitled to collect nomination forms between June 28 and July 2.

“Collecting nomination forms is a right for every CCM member. Gwajima enjoys the same rights as others. Our priority is to uphold democratic participation. The process will be conducted transparently,” he said.

Mr Mkumbura’s remarks follow internal discussions regarding Bishop Gwajima’s political standing, including concerns about his performance as an MP and promises he made during the 2020 campaign—some of which, the party noted, were outside its official manifesto.

He confirmed that some members at the meeting had questioned whether Bishop Gwajima should be allowed to stand again and whether he had delivered on his pledges to constituents.

“Since the party’s top leadership has not issued any directive barring him, we cannot prevent him from collecting forms. Relevant party organs at the appropriate time will decide on the matter,” said Mr Mkumbura.

On Bishop Gwajima’s 2020 campaign promises, Mr Mkumbura said they were personal and not drawn from CCM’s 2020–2025 election manifesto.

The debate was triggered by a controversial press conference on May 25, 2025, during which Bishop Gwajima, a member of CCM’s National Executive Committee (NEC), commented on reports of abductions.

He also claimed he could convey public concerns directly to the party chairperson, President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

He speculated on what might happen if children of senior government leaders, including the President, were abducted like ordinary citizens.

The remarks sparked national debate and were widely seen as prompting a strong public response from President Hassan during the CCM National Congress.

“If we open the door to individuals—myself included—who bring disruptive motives, the party risks becoming ‘Gwajimanised’. In every sense, we must resist the Gwajimanisation of CCM. Let’s leave the Gwajimas out,” President Hassan said on May 30 in Dodoma.

“There is no room for embarrassment or hesitation,” she added, in comments interpreted as a strong message to party members.

Despite the backlash, Bishop Gwajima reaffirmed his allegiance to CCM during a sermon at his Church of Resurrection and Life on June 1, 2025.

“I remain a CCM member and a NEC delegate. I oppose abductions and firmly reject the disappearance of people under suspicious circumstances,” he said.

However, on June 2, 2025, the Registrar of Civil Societies, Mr Emmanuel Kihampa, de-registered the Glory of Christ Church, citing breaches of the Societies Act, Cap 337.

The church was accused of delivering politically charged sermons and inciting the public against the government.

Absent from constituency

Asked whether the Kinondoni CCM office had been in contact with Gwajima, Mr Mkumbura said he had made several attempts to reach him without success. He added that the MP had not been seen in Parliament recently.

“The last time I saw him was during the CCM Special National Congress on January 18, 2025. I’ve tried calling him, but there was no response. A fellow MP also said they hadn’t seen him. I can’t say he’s disappeared or been barred, but since January, he has neither been active in the constituency nor attended party meetings. We’ve received no formal communication, and that raises many unanswered questions,” he said.

He noted that CCM continuously assesses the performance, ethics, and conduct of its members, which will influence nomination decisions for the 2025 polls.

Nevertheless, Bishop Gwajima attended the CCM National Congress in Dodoma from May 29 to 30, 2025, chaired by President Hassan.

However, Bishop Gwajima could be busy attending the Budget session, which commenced on April 8, 2025, in Parliament in Dodoma.