The ruling party CCM has endorsed Dr Ally Yahaya Simba, the Executive Secretary of the East African Communications Organization, to contest the Morogoro Urban parliamentary seat in the upcoming elections.
Dr Simba, who previously served as Director General of the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), will face six other aspirants, including the outgoing MP, Mr Abdulaziz Abood.
The decision was reached during a Central Committee meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) chaired by President Samia Suluhu Hassan in Dodoma. The meeting approved names of parliamentary hopefuls across several constituencies, with Morogoro Urban drawing particular attention due to the presence of high-profile candidates.
The list includes Thecla Rogath Mbiki, Khalfan Hussein Makila, Eng Robert Mashaka Kadikilo, Tito Yohana Mlelwa, and Bupe Steven Kamusha, alongside Dr Simba and Mr Abood.
Speaking shortly after the announcement, Dr Simba expressed appreciation to the party leadership and members for the confidence placed in him.
“This nomination is both an honour and a responsibility. I am grateful to CCM for trusting me with this opportunity. My focus now is to await the decision of the Morogoro District delegates, who will vote to choose a candidate capable of driving development in our constituency,” he said.
He further noted that his nomination aligns with CCM’s 2025–2030 manifesto, which prioritizes inclusive economic growth, innovation, and improved public service delivery.
Dr Simba pledged to work towards transforming Morogoro Urban if given the mandate. “My goal is to serve with integrity and collaborate closely with citizens and stakeholders to build a better Morogoro,” he said.
A native of Morogoro, Dr Simba began his education at Kingolwira Primary School. He later attended Ifunda Secondary School in Iringa, Pugu Secondary School in Dar es Salaam, and the University of Dar es Salaam. He obtained his PhD in ICT from Japan in 2006.
His career spans both domestic and international roles in leadership, policy development, and technology management. He is the first Tanzanian to serve as Executive Secretary of the East African Communications Organization, based in Kigali, Rwanda.
He also served as Director of ICT at the Ministry of Communications and as Director of Knowledge Management at the Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), before his presidential appointment to lead TCRA.
The CCM primary elections are expected to provide a clearer picture of who will represent the party in next year’s general election, with Morogoro Urban being one of the constituencies to watch closely.