Polepole resigns from diplomatic role, cites leadership concerns as CCM responds

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s Ambassador to Cuba, Mr Humphrey Polepole, has resigned from his post and relinquished his wider diplomatic responsibilities, citing what he described as a troubling decline in governance ethics and national leadership standards.
Confirming the move to Mwananchi, The Citizen’s sister paper, Mr Polepole said the decision was the result of deep reflection on the country’s leadership direction.
Reacting to the development, CCM’s Secretary for Ideology, Publicity and Training, Mr Amos Makalla, acknowledged having read the letter online, but called for caution in confirming its authenticity.
“I’ve read the letter on social media, just like you. The only person who can confirm whether it is genuine or not is the author himself,” Mr Makalla told journalists in Dodoma. He added, “If he says it’s genuine, then it becomes an expression of his personal views. What pleases me most is that he concludes by saying he will remain a loyal CCM member.”
Mr Makalla said if the letter is authentic, the party appreciates the feedback, adding that Mr Polepole remains among CCM’s 13 million loyal members.
In a letter dated July 13, 2025, and addressed to President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Mr Polepole announced his immediate resignation from the diplomatic post in Havana and from overseeing Tanzanian affairs in the Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Venezuela and Guyana.
Describing his resignation as deeply personal and not politically motivated, Mr Polepole expressed hope that Tanzania will one day return to principles of justice, discipline, and accountable leadership.
The former CCM Ideology and Publicity Secretary and MP also pointed to disillusionment with the party’s internal nomination process, which he said has deviated from its founding values of reform and fairness.
“In the recent nominations, I questioned whose interests were being championed—individuals, groups, or the party itself,” he wrote.