Dar es Salaam. Ten years ago, as the nation approached the 2015 General Election, CCM presidential candidate, Dr John Magufuli, emerged with the slogan “Hapa Kazi Tu” (“Here, Work Only”), reflecting his vision of encouraging Tanzanians to work diligently without excuses.
In 2020, United Peoples’ Democratic Party (UPDP) presidential candidate Twalib Ibrahim Kadege campaigned under the slogan “Kazi Mperampera” (“Nonstop Work”).
Ahead of the October 29, 2025 General Election, the UPDP continues to back Mr Kadege, who has refined his slogan.
He says: “Nonstop Speed to the State House. Fully expressed, the slogan reads: “Nonstop Speed to the State House, Peace and Stability Are Our Shield.”
This is the slogan of the United Republic of Tanzania presidential candidate, representing the UPDP, Mr Twalib Ibrahim Kadege, who says he wants Tanzanians to trust him, give him the mandate to lead, and he will deliver “nonstop progress.”
Mr Kadege states that although his slogan follows in the footsteps of Dr Magufuli’s 2015 message, he holds deep respect for Magufuli’s service to the nation.
He acknowledges that Magufuli was an exemplary president who brought international recognition to the country.
Mr Kadege also praises President Samia Suluhu Hassan for her careful and effective leadership.
Early life
Mr Kadege is a native of Kilwa in Lindi Region. He was born to Ibrahim Hamis Kadege and Zalia Mohammed Kikombe.
On February 14, 1952, Valentine’s Day, his parents welcomed a son, Twalib, the youngest of six children.
Kiwawa Kingongo Village, in Kilwa Masoko, Lindi Region, is Kadege’s ancestral home. He was born and raised there.
In 1963, aged 11, Kadege began first grade at Lihimalyao Primary School in Pande Ward, Kilwa District, Lindi Region. By 1964, he had completed fourth grade.
Having passed the fourth-grade exam, in 1965 Mr Kadege advanced to fifth grade at Msanga Primary School, then a middle school, in Kilwa Masoko.
He studied there through sixth grade in 1966 before transferring to Pande-Extended Primary School, where he completed sixth grade and graduated from seventh grade in 1967.
Education and work
In 1970, Mr Kadege joined the Urafiki Textile Factory in Ubungo, Dar es Salaam, as a machine operator. After 14 years in various textile production roles, in 1984 he was offered an opportunity by management to pursue further education.
Urafiki had established a programme to support employees’ education. Some rooms were converted into classrooms, and visiting teachers taught workers on-site. Through this, Mr Kadege began Form One in 1980. By 1982, he had completed Form Two and earned marks allowing him to take Form Four as a private candidate in 1988.
Mr Kadege recalls that in the 1988 Form Four exams, he studied three subjects: English (Grade C), Swahili (Grade B), and Civics (Grade D). This enabled him to pursue further studies in textile technology.
In 1989, Mr Kadege studied for a diploma in textile technology on-site at Urafiki, graduating with a Grade Three certificate as a textile production specialist.
In 1998, Mr Kadege began secondary education. Having completed Form Five, Urafiki’s privatisation disrupted the educational support system, preventing him from completing Form Six.
He also studied Journalism at diploma level but could not finish due to these disruptions.
In 1999, Mr Kadege left Urafiki, citing disagreements with the new management, explaining that this affected many employees, and he resigned in good faith.
After leaving, Mr Kadege focused on agriculture and politics. He owns rice and peanut farms in Rufiji, Coast Region, and Turiani, Morogoro; coconut farms in Lutando, Mkuranga, Coast Region; and cashew plantations in Nang’oo, Pande, Kilwa, Lindi Region.
He is thus recognised as a textile specialist turned farmer and politician.
Political career
Mr Kadege has been in politics for 33 years. In 1992, he served as a CCM branch member at Urafiki Factory, Ubungo, in Dar es Salaam Region.
In 1995, inspired by reformist politics and NCCR-Mageuzi presidential candidate the late Augustino Mrema, he defected from CCM and joined the opposition party.
In 1995, Mr Kadege was elected Secretary of NCCR-Mageuzi’s Ubungo branch (Urafiki and National Housing). In 1996, he became Secretary for Ubungo Ward, in Dar es Salaam.
In 1999, after a leadership crisis that split NCCR-Mageuzi, Mr Kadege joined the Tanzania Labour Party (TLP), becoming Secretary of Ubungo Ward.
In 2000, he was elected TLP c chairman for Ubungo Constituency. Early in 2006, he left TLP and joined UPDP.
He remained a regular UPDP member until 2010, when he was elected to the National Executive Council (NEC).
That year, he ran for Manzese Ward council seat in Ubungo but was unsuccessful, but in 2015, he was appointed a member of the UPDP Election Committee.
After the election, newly elected party chair Fahmi Nassoro Dovutwa appointed him to the National Executive Council (NEC).
Ahead of the 2015 General Election, Mr Kadege was campaign manager for UPDP presidential candidate, Mr Fahmi Dovutwa.
On August 9, 2018, following Felix Makua’s departure, Mr Kadege was appointed Acting Deputy Secretary-General for Mainland Tanzania.
On December 1, 2019, after Dovutwa’s expulsion, Mr Kadege was appointed Deputy Secretary-General for Mainland Tanzania, confirmed by the UPDP General Assembly.
On July 29, 2020, at Equator Grill, Temeke, Dar es Salaam, Mr Kadege was elected party chairman.
Family and manifesto
Ms Sophia Kawambwa is Kadege’s wife. They have five living children: Hamis, Rehema, Zamda, Rahim, and Neema. Their sixth child, Salum, has passed away.
Mr Kadege outlines his 2025 presidential priorities, emphasising agriculture with the slogan “land first, agriculture is the mother factory.”
He pledges free healthcare for all and plans to reform the education system to provide secondary students with practical skills.
Mr Kadege states that the 2025 UPDP manifesto leaves nothing out. He promises that if elected President of the United Republic of Tanzania, every elderly citizen will receive a monthly allowance of Sh500,000.
Register to begin your journey to our premium contentSubscribe for full access to premium content
