Why Chadema's financial and electoral reforms are on the spot

Dar es Salaam. The opposition Chadema has to reform its financial and electoral systems to remain the country’s alternative political party.

On Thursday, December 12, 2024, the party’s Vice Chairman (Mainland), Mr Tundu Lissu, said reforming the party’s fiscal and electoral systems was among the reasons that forced him to bid for chairmanship ahead of the conclusion of the intra-party elections early next year.

He criticised Chadema’s current reliance on individuals for the mobilisation of the party’s funds and resources, referring to the practice as unhealthy and dangerous, leading to dependency that would undermine the party’s long-term sustainability.

"This reliance raises serious questions about the ownership, transparency, and accountability of the party's financial resources," stated Mr Lissu during his address to the gathering that included supporters from across the country.

He emphasised the importance of restructuring Chadema’s resource distribution, adding that the party's finances shouldn’t depend on the contributions of a few individuals but rather be distributed based on the party’s constitutional framework.

He argued that resources should be allocated to the party’s levels from the grassroots—such as zones, regions, districts, and constituencies—where leadership and expertise already exist.

“In these areas, funds should be directed locally to improve efficiency and ensure better utilisation of resources. It is politically and administratively irrational for the party headquarters to oversee operations at the grassroots level when local leaders are already equipped to handle these responsibilities,” he said.

Mr Lissu also addressed long-standing concerns about financial mismanagement within the party, refuting rumors that Chadema had received billions in donations from wealthy supporters.

He revealed that the party had often relied on loans to finance its operations, which were later repaid after elections.

The firebrand politician reminded the press of past instances where the party chairman, Mr Mbowe, used personal funds for the party’s expenses, such as hiring a chopper in 2005, 2010 and the subsequent reimbursements from the party.

“Have we forgotten abuses when reimbursements were effected?” asked Mr Lissu, urging the party to move toward a more transparent financial system.

He proposed that funds be directly deposited into grassroots accounts, reducing bureaucracy and ensuring the money went where it was needed most.

Further, Mr Lissu called for reforms to the party’s electoral system, hinting that the opposition party needed an impartial system that would ensure justice in the electoral process.

“Whenever the party’s members are dissatisfied with election results, they should be confident that an independent body will address the matter accordingly," said Mr Lissu.

He further suggested that the electoral process be modelled on the system used by the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS), adapting it to meet the specific needs of political parties, especially opposition ones like Chadema.

According to Mr Lissu, these reforms are essential for the party to grow, unite, and remain competitive in the country’s political landscape.

"The constitutional amendments necessary to implement these reforms will empower Chadema to face its challenges head-on, and I am committed to seeing that these changes happen," he added.

Lissu’s announcement marks the beginning of what is expected to be a heated contest for the leadership of Chadema as the party prepares for the election of top leaders.

The two issues are of serious concern for Chadema which bitterly contested with the ruling CCM in past elections, especially during the 2015 General Election.

In that year, the CCM candidate, the late John Magufuli, emerged victorious after collecting 8,882,935 votes, equivalent to 58.46 percent.

He was closely followed by Chadema presidential flag bearer Edward Lowassa, who garnered 6,072,848 votes, equivalent to 39.97 votes.

Chadema also emerged second by securing 70 parliamentary seats behind CCM which collected 253 seats and ahead of CUF which gathered 42 seats.

“You can’t become the country’s alternative political party without sound systems of financial and resource supervision. The party should also have a transparent electoral body to have the legitimacy of demanding the same for overseeing public elections,” said an independent political commentator who sought anonymity.

A political scientist from the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Dr Richard Mbunda, said some issues raised by Lissu concerning Chadema had long been discussed, particularly areas of financial transparency and how the party should position itself to operate institutionally.

He noted that these were the areas that had also led many analysts to criticize the opposition party that has been considering itself the country’s alternative political party.

“What we see here is that Lissu is seeking legitimacy to run for the party's chairmanship, so he has a lot to say, and you might find that what he said is part of what he would like to present publicly,” he said.

“However, I think this is a good thing for Chadema as an institution. The party needs to operate institutionally and not rely on an individual. What Lissu is trying to bring is the idea that the party should function as an institution and not depend on the chairman,” he added.

He further noted that those issues were some of the shortcomings that, if someone else took over, people might see some changes.

A lecturer and political analyst from the Open University of Tanzania (OUT), Mr Revocatus Kabobe, said Mr Lissu's message regarding his aspiration to become the chairman of his political party likely reflected his perspectives and strategic priorities for the party's financial management.

While the specific details of his message were not provided, he noted that some general reflections could be drawn based on typical political contexts:

“If Mr Lissu emphasised transparency and accountability, it suggests he is committed to reforming financial practices within the party. This could be a move to build trust among the party’s members and the public.

“This strategy would likely involve introducing robust financial reporting mechanisms and ensuring funds are used effectively for the party’s activities,” said Mr Kabobe.

Another thing, he said, was the diversification of funding sources; “If he discussed diversifying financial resources, it signals an effort to reduce dependency on a limited number of donors or sources, thus ensuring financial sustainability.

“The party might focus on grassroots fundraising, leveraging member contributions, or partnerships with aligned organizations.

“By mentioning the importance of empowering grassroots structures, it could mean redirecting financial resources to local branches to enhance their operational capacity.

“This would decentralize financial control, giving local branches more autonomy to implement strategies tailored to their unique contexts.

Mr Kabobe also touched on the goal of reducing financial vulnerabilities. He noted that addressing issues such as corruption or external financial dependencies would reflect the new chairperson’s intent to make the party more resilient and self-sufficient.

Predecessor’s caution

The party’s former vice chairman, Prof Abdallah Safari, said Mr Lissu was likely frustrated with the ongoing situation in the party, which is why he has decided to run for the chairmanship.

However, he advised Mr Lissu to get prepared, as he would face people he referred to as "lice," who will do everything possible to prevent him from winning.

“There must be a leadership change, as I have previously said in CUF that sultans and monarchies shouldn’t be allowed. Let’s see the dust rise and face each other properly,” he said.

Prof Safari expressed his happiness, noting that history was repeating itself for him and former Prime Minister Frederick Sumaye.

“I see nothing wrong with Mr Lissu running. I also ran when I was in CUF,” said Prof Safari.

Recalling his experience in CUF, Prof Safari said that despite not holding a senior position, he was labelled as a "transplant" when he ran for the chairmanship.

He said that close allies turned against him simply because he sought leadership and demanded an independent commission and that in the end, he received only six votes.

Prof Safari urged Mr Lissu to learn from him and former premier Sumaye’s experiences, pointing out that leadership struggles could lead to unexpected challenges.

He also reminded Mr Lissu that even with his popularity, "lice" will begin to attack and insult him.

Online stakeholder opinions

A prominent Chadema member and Coast Region’s chairman, Mr Boniface Jacob, shared his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter) shortly after Mr Lissu's meeting.

“If your brother wants to fight you, refuse and beg him not to draw a sword. If he insists, call other family members and elders to advise him on the importance of family unity. If he ignores all of them, let him have the fight he wants. Show him no mercy. Let this be a lesson that unity and love in the family are more important than personal ambitions,” writes Mr Jacob, who doubles as Mr Mbowe’s close ally.

The party’s chairman for Shinyanga Region, Mr Emmanuel Ntobi, wrote: “Let it be known that the Chadema National Congress has more than 1,200 members. The fat of abundance is visible on the plate. Let's agree: if you are hit, don't leave the party or cry! Don’t hate the players, hate the game!”

Other Chadema members, including Mr Martin Maranja Masese, stayed neutral and praised his party, saying, “Chadema is a popular party in society. Different social groups discuss the chairperson's election. We offer a competitive election, unlike CCM, where the chairperson contests with a shadow.”

Chadema’s chairman for the Northern Zone, Mr Godbless Lema, emphasised that there was a difference between competition and indiscipline, urging the party’s members to respect unity and discipline within the party.

Activist Tito Magoti also criticised those attacking Mr Lissu, saying, "You can have opinions about Mr Lissu, but you must understand the cost of democracy. Attacking Mr Lissu for presenting his bid to lead Chadema is not a battle. It’s progress. Accept this process."

TLS president Boniface Mwabukusi called for more lawyers to participate in political processes.

A prominent online activist, Ms Maria Sarungi, also endorsed Mr Lissu, recalling how he remained resolute in the face of criticism.

Other figures, like Prof Kitila Mkumbo and Dr Chris Cyrilo, shared their perspectives.

The former made light of the situation, and the latter commented on infighting and the lessons that can be learned from it.