More leaders for Tanzania’s opposition Chadema quit in Kilimanjaro over alleged internal wrangles
Some of the leaders who resigned from Chadema membership in Kilimanjaro Region, Northern Zone.
What you need to know:
- Their resignation comes just days after 13 senior Chadema officials from across eight zones—Pwani, Serengeti, Northern, Southern, Central, Nyasa, Victoria and Western—also relinquished their party membership.
Moshi, Kilimanjaro. In a fresh blow to the opposition party Chadema, several senior party leaders in Kilimanjaro Region, including regional chairman Gervas Mgonjwa, have tendered their resignation, citing dissatisfaction with the party’s internal leadership and direction.
Others who announced their departure include Rachael Sadick, Secretary of Bawacha for the Northern Zone; Grace Kiwelu, Bawacha Chairperson for Kilimanjaro Region; Answary Kimaro, a member of the IT committee for the Northern Zone; and Michael Kilawila, former Kilimanjaro regional chairman.
Speaking during a press conference in Moshi on Saturday, May 11, 2025, the leaders accused the party’s leadership of failing to address growing concerns from within and allowing abusive behaviour to go unchecked.
Former Chairperson of Bawacha Chadema Northern Zone, Rachael Sadick.
“We have decided to part ways with Chadema due to a persistent failure to listen to our concerns and address the toxic language and internal strife perpetuated by some members,” said Mr Mgonjwa.
Their resignation comes just days after 13 senior Chadema officials from across eight zones—Pwani, Serengeti, Northern, Southern, Central, Nyasa, Victoria and Western—also relinquished their party membership. That group cited violations of the party constitution, internal divisions, and discrimination against members aligned with former national chairman Freeman Mbowe.
In their joint statement issued on May 10, the former leaders also criticised the party’s continued electoral boycotts, arguing that such strategies only pave the way for the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) to win unchallenged.
Among those who resigned earlier were Jackson Jingu, former Vice Chair of the Central Zone; Emma Kimambo, former Treasurer of the Northern Zone; Basil Lema, a veteran party trainer and former Kilimanjaro regional secretary; and former MP Gimbi Masaba, who also served as Vice Chair of BAWACHA in the Serengeti Zone.
“We can no longer align ourselves with a party that has strayed from democratic principles and marginalised loyal members of its past leadership,” read part of the statement.
Former Chairperson of Chadema Kilimanjaro Region, Gervas Mgonjwa.
The latest resignations in Kilimanjaro are seen as part of a broader internal crisis facing Chadema ahead of the 2025 General Election, with observers warning that the opposition party may continue to lose key figures unless decisive reforms are undertaken.
