The party cadre’s stance has found support in various parts of the country. Photo: Courtesy
By Adonis Byemelwa
The expulsion of Reverend Godfrey Malisa from Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) is just the tip of the iceberg in the party’s downward spiral of democracy and freedom of speech.
Malisa’s removal from the party, announced by Kilimanjaro Regional CCM Secretary Merce Mollel on February 10, 2025, raises serious concerns about internal democracy and the intolerance of dissenting voices within CCM.
His crime? Voicing opposition to the party’s decision to endorse President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Dr. Hussein Mwinyi as sole presidential candidates without allowing any competition—a decision he deemed unconstitutional and a direct violation of Article 21 of Tanzania’s constitution, which upholds every citizen’s right to seek elective office.
The silencing of Malisa is eerily reminiscent of how opposition figures like Tundu Lissu have been treated in their political parties. Had Lissu taken the same approach towards Chadema’s Freeman Mbowe as Malisa did towards the CCM leadership, he might have found himself in a similar predicament.
This trend of stifling open debate and criticism within parties suggests a dangerous trajectory for Tanzania’s political landscape. Behind closed doors, many CCM members share Malisa’s concerns, acknowledging that the party has strayed from its foundational principles.
Nevertheless, fear keeps them from speaking out. Malisa was merely vocalizing what many within the party whisper in hushed tones—that the top brass of CCM has abandoned democratic ideals in favour of orchestrated endorsements that rob members of their right to choose their leaders freely.
The truth remains that no leader is beyond reproach, and to act otherwise is to place fallible human beings on a pedestal they do not deserve. Malisa’s fears were not unfounded.
Former Tanzanian president Jakaya Kikwete, instead of retiring gracefully, has continued to wield his influence in ways that undermine the democratic essence of the party.
His apparent role in guiding the succession process has drawn criticism from those who believe that CCM’s internal democratic processes have been hijacked.
This same pattern has been witnessed in the past, with figures like Professor Kighoma Malima, who dared to challenge the CCM establishment only to find himself politically and mysteriously neutralized.
Similarly, Luhaga Mpina, once a rising CCM figure, is currently in deep political trouble over his public spat with Agriculture Minister Hussein Bashe concerning controversial sugar deals. The party has made it clear that dissenters will not be tolerated.
As Malisa remains steadfast in his decision to challenge the party in court over its undemocratic endorsement of a sole presidential candidate, there are growing concerns for his safety.
Open criticism of the presidency in Tanzania has historically led to dire consequences, with numerous cases of abductions and disappearances of vocal government critics. Malisa could very well find himself in grave danger simply for exercising his right to free speech.
Interestingly, his stance has found support in various parts of the country. In Shinyanga Municipality and Tarime District, several CCM members have voiced their agreement with Malisa’s concerns, arguing that the party has deviated from its democratic principles.
"Malisa is saying what many of us have been afraid to say. The party is no longer the democratic institution it once was," said Joseph Mwakitalima, a long-time CCM supporter from Shinyanga. "We are witnessing a party that silences its members instead of allowing healthy debate."
Another CCM member from Tarime, Asha Mtembo, was equally vocal. "What Malisa is facing is unfair. He has only spoken the truth. Why is our party so afraid of criticism? This is not the CCM we grew up knowing," she lamented.
On the other hand, a few party loyalists dismiss him as a troublemaker attempting to disrupt party unity. As Tanzania heads into the 2025 general elections in October, the future of CCM appears uncertain.
President Samia has spoken against premature campaigning, yet her administration has been accused of contradicting this stance by distributing thousands of motorcycles emblazoned with her initials, SSH, in the party’s signature green and yellow colours.
This stark discrepancy between her public statements and her actions has not gone unnoticed, fueling internal criticism within CCM.
Tanzania must take cues from established democracies like the United States, where political leaders endure harsh criticism even within their parties. Former President Donald Trump, for instance, has faced fierce opposition from within the Republican Party, yet democracy has prevailed.
Other leaders across the world have had their policies and leadership questioned by their party members without facing expulsion or political persecution.
If Tanzania’s ruling party cannot foster a culture of internal democracy, it risks becoming a rigid, authoritarian entity rather than a political institution that represents the will of its members.
The expulsion of Malisa is not merely an isolated incident; it is a glaring symptom of a much deeper crisis within CCM. If dissent continues to be punished rather than embraced as a crucial element of democracy, the party may find itself alienating its members and eroding its credibility ahead of the 2025 elections.
Behold, Tanzania deserves a ruling party that respects democratic norms, tolerates criticism, and upholds the principles upon which it was founded.