What CCM reshuffle means ahead of General Election

Dr Migiro succeeds Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi, who was recently nominated as President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s running mate.

The announcement by outgoing Ideology, Publicity and Training secretary Amos Makalla followed a high-level meeting called to nominate the party’s parliamentary candidates in the forthcoming elections.

At the same sitting chaired by CCM’s national chairperson, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the party endorsed a reshuffle in its propaganda and communication wing, with Mr Makalla swapping posts with Arusha Regional Commissioner Kenan Kihongosi.

According to the Presidential Communications Directorate, Mr Makalla will be sworn in tomorrow at Chamwino State House in Dodoma.

Born in Songea, Ruvuma Region, 69 years ago, Dr Migiro is a seasoned politician, diplomat and legal scholar. She brings to the post vast experience in both domestic and international service.

In 2007, she became the first Tanzanian and only the third person globally to serve as United Nations Deputy Secretary-General under then UN chief Ban Ki-moon.

Before her international posting, she made history as Tanzania’s first female Foreign Minister between 2006 and 2007. Earlier, she served as Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children for five years.

Her distinguished career has also included chairing critical regional bodies such as the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region and the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security, where she spearheaded regional peace and election missions.

Domestically, she has risen through the CCM ranks, from grassroots ward membership to national prominence. In 2015, she contested the CCM presidential nomination, finishing in the top three of more than 50 aspirants in the race ultimately won by the late President John Magufuli.

Dr Migiro has also represented Tanzania abroad as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (2016–2020). A lawyer by training, she holds a Master of Laws from the University of Dar es Salaam and a Doctorate in Law from the University of Konstanz, Germany.

Political commentators say the reshuffle signals strategic positioning by CCM as it sharpens its structures for the looming campaign.

Dr Paul Loisulie of the University of Dodoma said Dr Migiro’s appointment “fits seamlessly with CCM’s tradition of deploying tested leaders during high-stakes moments”.

“Choosing someone like Dr Migiro means bringing in a person with vast experience in both domestic and international politics. Her past performance—including finishing in the top three during CCM’s hotly contested 2015 presidential nomination—shows her level of acceptance within the party,” he said.

Prof Makame Ali Ussi of the State University of Zanzibar (Suza) noted Dr Migiro’s global diplomatic background would be an asset in the campaign season.

“This is a strategic move, not surprising at all, given CCM’s depth of experience in navigating tense electoral environments,” he said.

On the choice of Mr Kihongosi to lead the party’s ideology and publicity docket, analysts said it reflected CCM’s bid to appeal directly to Tanzania’s youthful population.

Another university of Dar es Salaam analyst, Dr Onesmo Kyauke, argued that bringing in a younger figure was no accident.

“The youth form the majority of Tanzania’s population. Every party wants to capture that demographic for today’s election and secure future victories. A youthful face at the helm of communication is central to that ambition,” he said.

For his part, Dr Revocatus Kabobe of the Open University of Tanzania described the reshuffle as “a correct balancing act” despite the limited time left before campaigns officially begin.

“With campaigns scheduled to run from August 28 to October 28, and voting set for October 29, CCM has made timely choices of individuals who match the immediate needs of the positions. It’s a clear sign of fine-tuning the party machinery as the country heads into the polls,” he explained.

Dr Kabobe said the appointments underscore CCM’s emphasis on consolidating its structures and messaging as it prepares to defend its long-standing grip on power.

President Hassan, who is seeking her first full term, now heads into the campaign with a running mate in Dr Nchimbi, a seasoned politician and diplomat, and with Dr Migiro, a figure of national and international stature, running the party’s day-to-day operations.

Analysts say the mix of experience, youth, and regional balance in the reshuffle reflects CCM’s determination to project strength, unity, and readiness as Tanzania enters the final stretch towards the October General Election.