By The Respondent Reporter
The government has suspended all public funding to CHADEMA, one of Tanzania’s main opposition parties, a move follows a leadership crisis within the party and its refusal to follow instructions from the Registrar of Political Parties.
In a public statement issued today, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, the Registrar said CHADEMA has no legally recognized leaders who can manage public funds responsibly. The statement was signed by Abuu Kimario, Head of Communication and Civic Education at the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties.
The Registrar said the suspension is based on the law, specifically Section 18(6) of the Political Parties Act. This section gives the Registrar power to stop financial support if a party fails to follow the rules, especially on how public money is used.
This action comes just two days after CHADEMA’s Vice Chairman, John Heche, announced that the party would not follow a directive from the Registrar regarding a complaint by party member Lembrus Mchome.
In a public address on May 25, 2025, Heche said the instructions from the Registrar were invalid and would be ignored.
According to the Registrar, the people currently acting as CHADEMA leaders are not legally approved.
They include John Mnyika, Amani Golugwa, Ali Ibrahim Juma, Godbless Lema, Dr. Rugemeleza Nshala, Rose Mayemba, Salima Kasanzu, and Hafidhi Ali Salehe.
These leaders were selected during a party meeting in January 2025, however, the Registrar says that meeting was not properly conducted and does not meet legal standards.
The Registrar has also asked government offices, private organizations, and the public not to work with or offer services to the people listed above if they claim to represent CHADEMA.
The statement insists that only leaders recognized by the Registrar can represent any political party in Tanzania.
In stronger terms, the Registrar warned that if CHADEMA continues to disobey, the authorities will take legal and criminal action.
This may include banning those individuals from engaging in political activities. The Registrar referred to Section 21E of the law, which allows these kinds of measures.
The Registrar also reminded CHADEMA that its registration as a political party could be suspended if it continues to act outside the law.
The statement encouraged all political parties to follow legal procedures to maintain order and avoid conflict.
This situation shows growing tension between CHADEMA and the government over who controls the party’s leadership.
While CHADEMA claims its decisions are made democratically, the Registrar says those decisions are not legal.
The public remains divided. Some believe the government is interfering with party independence. Others think laws must be followed, even by opposition parties.
The coming weeks will likely shape the future of CHADEMA and how the law is applied in party politics. This case also raises wider questions about political freedom and accountability in Tanzania’s democracy.
