CCM expels Ali Karume, orders him to return the party card

Unguja. Ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) has expelled one of its cadres and former diplomat Ali Karume for gross misconduct and ordered him to return the party’s card in a meeting that was conducted at 3 a.m. on Saturday, July 8.

Announcing the decision of the session, CCM’s Publicity Secretary of the Kusini Unguja Region, Ali Timamu Haji, said that the decision was reached after discussing and receiving suggestions from the lower sessions regarding the conduct and behavior of the member.

"We have received proposals from various lower meetings, and we have reviewed them at the regional level. In accordance with the CCM constitution of 1977, version of the year 2022, article 89 (4), the Central Committee of the CCM Region confers us that power," he said.

He said that sub-article 14 (14) directs that the party could discontinue or expel any member from the party if it is proven that his behavior and conduct disqualify him from membership, and the expelled member can appeal to the main committee of the National Executive Council.

"For that reason, after being empowered by the constitution and the recommendations from the lower levels, the CCM Regional Central Committee has unanimously agreed that due to the statements and actions of this member, we have agreed to terminate his membership on CCM card number C000/2809/993/1 issued March 17, 2022."

KArume’s expulsion came two days after the veteran politician and diplomat Ali Karume cautioned that the ruling party CCM is a single national entity, which is a constitutional requirement.

Speaking to The Citizen, the diplomat, among other issues, said CCM was a product of TANU (Tanganyika African National Union) and ASP (Afro Shirazi Party), but in 1992, the constitutional amendment that ushered in multiparty politics meant that parties had to bear a national identity.

According to him, his recent utterances were not a slip of the tongue; instead, he said he was speaking from an informed point of view based on what he had observed as a citizen.

"Theoretically (in CCM), there is democracy, but in reality, it has been invaded by individuals who are ready to manipulate the party's constitution and get power only to turn around and do things in the opposite direction," he said.

This comes 21 days after the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM)-Zanzibar, placed the former diplomat under the supervision of the party’s ethics committee over his recent remarks against the party and its top leaders.

Karume was summoned by the ethics committee for questioning over statements he made on social media, including that the party had never legally won elections in Zanzibar and publicly criticizing President Hussein Mwinyi's policies of leasing out islets, something he says will never bear fruit.