CCM to fill Kinana’s void this month

DODOMA: The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) will hold a Special General Meeting on January 18-19, 2025, with three main agendas, including filling the vacant position of Vice Chairperson for Mainland Tanzania following the resignation of veteran politician Abdulrahman Kinana.

Kinana assumed the post of the party’s Vice Chairperson in 2022 after his predecessor, Philip Mangula, resigned.

Speaking to journalists at the party’s headquarters in Dodoma on Tuesday, the party’s Secretary for Ideology, Publicity, and Training, CPA Amos Makalla, stated that the other agendas include receiving reports on the party’s work from 2022 to 2025 and reviewing the implementation of the CCM election manifesto.

“There are three main agendas for the General Meeting. The first is to elect the Vice Chairperson for CCM Mainland, a position left vacant following Kinana’s decision to step down. This will be one of the critical decisions made during the meeting,” said Makalla.

CPA Makalla explained that the reports on manifesto implementation will be presented by both the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania and the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar.

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Regarding the process of selecting Kinana’s successor, Makalla clarified that the new Vice Chairperson will be chosen after the Central Committee (CC) proposes a name for approval by the National Executive Committee (NEC), and the final nominee will be presented to the Congress for a vote.

“There have been rumors, with headlines suggesting CCM is in turmoil and speculating about who might succeed Kinana. Some even claim to know who will take over the position,” Makalla said.

He emphasized: “I want to make it clear that the position of Vice Chairperson is not contested. When you speak of a contest, where does it come from when no one fills out forms to run for it? The process is not about campaigning; it’s about nomination and approval within our established procedures.”

He added: “We will have a new Vice Chairperson after the Central Committee and the National Executive Committee propose a name, and that name is voted on during the General Meeting. The party is governed by its constitution, and we follow our procedures. We cannot be led by people’s emotions. The Central Committee has determined that now is the right time to fill the position.”

The Special General Meeting will be preceded by meetings of the Central Committee and the National Executive Committee, scheduled for January 16, 2025.