Chama Cha Mapinduzi
Encyclopedia
The Chama cha Mapinduzi (Party of the Revolution in Swahili
) is the ruling political party
of Tanzania
.
as the merger of the Tanganyika African National Union
(TANU), the then ruling party in Tanganyika
, and the Afro-Shirazi Party
(ASP), the then ruling party in Zanzibar
.
TANU/CCM has dominated the politics of Tanzania
since the independence of Tanganyika in 1962. Due to the merger with the ASP, from 1977 it has been also the ruling party in Zanzibar, though there its grip on power has been more contested by the Civic United Front
(CUF). It was the only legal party until July 1, 1992, when amendments to the national Constitution
and a number of laws permitting and regulating the formation and operations of more than one political party were enacted by the National Assembly or Bunge.
, upholder of the system of collectivized agriculture known as Ujamaa
and firmly oriented to the left, the CCM espouses today a more neoliberal approach. It conceives of economic modernization and free market policies as ways to raise the living standards of the citizens of Tanzania, one of the poorest countries in the world. CCM hopes to continue to privatize and modernize in order to ensure:
Similarly, the CCM's major foreign policy focus is economic diplomacy within the international system, and peaceful coexistence with neighbors.
, presidential and legislative, held both in Tanzania at state level and in Zanzibar at autonomous level under the multi-party system: 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2010.
In the elections for Zanzibar's presidency
and House of Representatives
, held on 30 October 2005, incumbent president and CCM candidate Amani Abeid Karume
controversially won with 53.18% of the vote after massive vote rigging, while the party won 30 seats out of 50.The presidential seat was won by an opposition party candidate Seif Shariff Hamad but through underhand means, the heavily compromised electoral commission (ZEC) declared CCM's candidate, Amani Karume, the winner.
In the national elections for Tanzania's presidency
and National Assembly
, held on 14 December 2005, Foreign Minister and CCM candidate Jakaya Kikwete
won with 80.28% of the vote. Out of the 232 seats filled through direct election, the CCM won 206.
On 31 October 2010, Jakaya Kikwete is reelected president with 62.8 % of the vote, while CCM obtains 186 out of the 239 direct seats.
(president of Tanganyika 1962-1964 and of Tanzania 1964-1985); the second chairman, from 1990 to 1996, was Ali Hassan Mwinyi
(president of the Republic 1985-1995); the third CCM chairman, from 1996 until 2006, was Benjamin Mkapa
, president of the Republic in 1995-2005. Tanzania's current president, Jakaya Kikwete
, has led the party since 2006.
Swahili language
Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...
) is the ruling political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
of Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
.
History
The party was created February 5, 1977, under the leadership of Julius NyerereJulius Nyerere
Julius Kambarage Nyerere was a Tanzanian politician who served as the first President of Tanzania and previously Tanganyika, from the country's founding in 1961 until his retirement in 1985....
as the merger of the Tanganyika African National Union
Tanganyika African National Union
The Tanganyika African National Union was the principal political party in the struggle for sovereignty in the East African state of Tanganyika . The party was formed from the Tanganyika African Association by Julius Nyerere in July 1954 when he was teaching at St. Francis' College...
(TANU), the then ruling party in Tanganyika
Tanganyika
Tanganyika , later formally the Republic of Tanganyika, was a sovereign state in East Africa from 1961 to 1964. It was situated between the Indian Ocean and the African Great Lakes of Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika...
, and the Afro-Shirazi Party
Afro-Shirazi Party
The Afro-Shirazi Party was the union between the mostly Shiraz Party and the mostly African Afro Party in the island of Zanzibar. The formation of ASP led to the ouster of the Arabs from power with the Zanzibar Revolution in 1964. The party joined with the Tanganyika African National Union to...
(ASP), the then ruling party in Zanzibar
Zanzibar
Zanzibar ,Persian: زنگبار, from suffix bār: "coast" and Zangi: "bruin" ; is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, in East Africa. It comprises the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the mainland, and consists of numerous small islands and two large ones: Unguja , and Pemba...
.
TANU/CCM has dominated the politics of Tanzania
Politics of Tanzania
Politics of Tanzania takes place in a framework of a unitary presidential democratic republic, whereby the President of Tanzania is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the...
since the independence of Tanganyika in 1962. Due to the merger with the ASP, from 1977 it has been also the ruling party in Zanzibar, though there its grip on power has been more contested by the Civic United Front
Civic United Front
The Civic United Front is a liberal party in Tanzania. Although nationally-based, most of the CUF's support comes from the Zanzibar islands of Unguja and Pemba...
(CUF). It was the only legal party until July 1, 1992, when amendments to the national Constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
and a number of laws permitting and regulating the formation and operations of more than one political party were enacted by the National Assembly or Bunge.
Ideology
Originally a champion of African socialismAfrican socialism
African socialism is a belief in sharing economic resources in a "traditional" African way, as distinct from classical socialism. Many African politicians of the 1950s and 1960s professed their support for African socialism, although definitions and interpretations of this term varied...
, upholder of the system of collectivized agriculture known as Ujamaa
Ujamaa
Ujamaa was the concept that formed the basis of Julius Nyerere's social and economic development policies in Tanzania just after it gained independence from Britain in 1961...
and firmly oriented to the left, the CCM espouses today a more neoliberal approach. It conceives of economic modernization and free market policies as ways to raise the living standards of the citizens of Tanzania, one of the poorest countries in the world. CCM hopes to continue to privatize and modernize in order to ensure:
- Increased productivity which would boost the country's revenue
- Increased employment and improved management
- Acquisition of new and modern technology
- Increased and expanded local and international markets for our products, and;
- Improved and strengthened private sector serving as the engine of the national economy while the government sharpens its focus on provision of social services, infrastructure, security and governance of the state.
Similarly, the CCM's major foreign policy focus is economic diplomacy within the international system, and peaceful coexistence with neighbors.
Electoral performance
CCM has won all electionsElections in Tanzania
Elections in Tanzania gives information on election and election results in Tanzania.Tanzania elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The president is elected for a five year term by the people...
, presidential and legislative, held both in Tanzania at state level and in Zanzibar at autonomous level under the multi-party system: 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2010.
In the elections for Zanzibar's presidency
President of Zanzibar
The President of Zanzibar is the head of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, which is a semi-autonomous government within Tanzania. The current President is Ali Mohamed Shein. The President is also the chairman of the Revolutionary Council, whose members are appointed by the President, and...
and House of Representatives
House of Representatives of Zanzibar
The unicameral House of Representatives of Zanzibar is the semi-autonomous island's legislative body.The current House of Representatives, formed following elections held on 30 October 2005, has a total of 81 members. 50 members are directly elected in single-member constituencies using the simple...
, held on 30 October 2005, incumbent president and CCM candidate Amani Abeid Karume
Amani Abeid Karume
Amani Abeid Karume is a former president of Zanzibar. He held the office from 8 November 2000 to 3 November 2010. He is the son of Zanzibar's first president, Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume and a member of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi party....
controversially won with 53.18% of the vote after massive vote rigging, while the party won 30 seats out of 50.The presidential seat was won by an opposition party candidate Seif Shariff Hamad but through underhand means, the heavily compromised electoral commission (ZEC) declared CCM's candidate, Amani Karume, the winner.
In the national elections for Tanzania's presidency
President of Tanzania
The President of the United Republic of Tanzania is the head of state and head of government of Tanzania. The president leads the executive branch of the Government of Tanzania and is the commander-in-chief of the Tanzania People's Defence Force....
and National Assembly
National Assembly of Tanzania
The National Assembly of Tanzania and the President of the United Republic make up the Parliament of Tanzania. The current Speaker of the National Assembly is Hon. Anna Makinda, who presides over an assembly of 357 members.- History :...
, held on 14 December 2005, Foreign Minister and CCM candidate Jakaya Kikwete
Jakaya Kikwete
Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete is the 4th and current President of the United Republic of Tanzania. Kikwete was born in Msoga, Bagamoyo District, Tanganyika in present day Tanzania...
won with 80.28% of the vote. Out of the 232 seats filled through direct election, the CCM won 206.
On 31 October 2010, Jakaya Kikwete is reelected president with 62.8 % of the vote, while CCM obtains 186 out of the 239 direct seats.
Leadership
TANU/CCM has had four chairmen in its history, each of whom was president of the United Republic of Tanzania during his term as party chairman. The first chairman, from 1954 to 1990, was Julius NyerereJulius Nyerere
Julius Kambarage Nyerere was a Tanzanian politician who served as the first President of Tanzania and previously Tanganyika, from the country's founding in 1961 until his retirement in 1985....
(president of Tanganyika 1962-1964 and of Tanzania 1964-1985); the second chairman, from 1990 to 1996, was Ali Hassan Mwinyi
Ali Hassan Mwinyi
Ali Hassan Mwinyi is a Tanzanian politician. He was the second President of the United Republic of Tanzania from 1985 to 1995. Previous posts include Interior Minister and Vice President...
(president of the Republic 1985-1995); the third CCM chairman, from 1996 until 2006, was Benjamin Mkapa
Benjamin Mkapa
Benjamin William Mkapa was the third President of the United Republic of Tanzania and former Chairman for the Revolutionary State Party .-Biography:...
, president of the Republic in 1995-2005. Tanzania's current president, Jakaya Kikwete
Jakaya Kikwete
Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete is the 4th and current President of the United Republic of Tanzania. Kikwete was born in Msoga, Bagamoyo District, Tanganyika in present day Tanzania...
, has led the party since 2006.
External links
- CCM website in English
- CCM website in Swahili (often more up to date than the English version)
- CCM constitution (pdf file)