When president Samia Suluhu Hassan came to power declared she was a “carbon copy” of Magufuli’s presidency. She shrieked: “…Mimi na Magufuli letu ni moja…”
It was a stark reminder of the maintenance of the status quo purposed during the sixth administration akin of Moi’s “nitafuata nyayo” clarion that defined his regime following the death of the first president of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta.
However, the public spat between president Samia and Bishop Gwajima signals the end of the influence of Magufuli allies not only in CCM but also in the reins of power, at large. The tension was palpable and was flaring in Parliament but now the gloves are officially off. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has vowed to clean CCM with Magufuli men when she targeted Bishop Gwajima during the closure of the CCM general convention on May 30th, 2025 in Dodoma.
Why has Magufuli strongmen once considered the power behind the throne failed to blend themselves with the Samia’s administration remains a jigsaw which this discourse will attempt to unravel.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has carried unprecedented cabinet reshuffles signalling the challenges of balancing her own picks with those she had inherited from the former president Magufuli. Part of her challenge was to attempt to retain the Magufuli political base while expanding her own.
However, over time Magufuli allies found their political fortunes dwindling under Samia Suluhu Hassan’s tutelage. Powerful cabinet ministers such as Luhaga Mpina were immediately relieved of their duties provoking discontent. Mpina was the minister for fisheries during the Magufuli reign, and he still perceives his death wasn’t natural but man-made and has bitterly urged criminal investigations to establish the true cause of Magufuli death. Nothing has come out of it.
After Mpina’s sacking from cabinet, another senior minister during the Magufuli era who had inherited Magufuli’s constituency of Chato and became a member of Parliament, one Medard Matogolo Kalemani, was also shown the door. He had survived a couple of reshuffles but couldn’t retain his powerful ministerial post. Medard Matogolo Kalemani held the powerful ministry of energy before he was sacked.
Unlike Mpina, Kalemani has maintained a reserved posture resisting to confront her allies in the government. This may turn out to be his strength since it is in humility where one draws stamina to endure the vagaries of political afflictions. Also, it is in humility where one disarms those who mean him evil.
His political rivals no longer view Kalemani as a threat and he draws a lot of sympathy in a manner he had conducted himself with decour during times of great trials and tribulations. I expect him to be nominated by CCM to represent his Chato constituency. No one want him completely disentangled from the power loop. He may turn out to be one of the very few survivors of the rout against Magufuli men and women.
Mpina engaged in duels with many powerful cabinet ministers in a manner some overlooked the merits behind the alterations and beamed a grudge after being dumped in the cabinet. Mpina had grouses with the minister for finance and the contentions went below the belt as qualifications of the minister became part of personal attacks. The minister defended his CV by bragging he was a doctor of philosophy on economics. It is a contentious subject I will intentionally skip for now.
Mpina had issues with the agricultural minister over sugar permits extended to non sugar factory owners, a violation of written laws. Over time, Mpina was punished with a lengthy ban from attending parliamentary meetings. The agriculture minister was left unscathed, a double standard that infuriated Mr. Mpina. Mpina too has been noisily supportive and or empathising with Chadema’s political persecution and some have questioned his allegiance to CCM.
With Chadema out of elections due to technical machinations it is unlikely Mpina will shift there. Most likely Mpina will try to retain his seat but his name will not be shortlisted. The animosity has reached a stage where tolerance is perceived as undermining one’s future. So, Mpina will have to choose either to join the wilderness of opposition where winning a parliamentary seat is CCM volition. CCM will never allow him back to Parliament so his political fortunes are at least for now shrinking at an alarming rate. I don’t expect to see him back in Parliament, again save for electoral reforms in the future.
Joyce Lazaro Ndalichako was a powerful minister under the Magufuli administration. She was the minister for education and called the shots there to the extent she named herself professor. Her reasoning was since she was supervising professors in higher institutions she too must be a professor to do that. She too survived many reshuffles but her turn came and she was out. Ndalichako is casting a lonely figure in the Parliament still smarting her untimely demotion, and probably wondering what could have been had Magufuli been alive today.
For obvious reasons, she sees her horrific turn of events very much a corollary of his death. Despite that, Ndalichako has not waged any overt internecine, so not many want her permanently out. Her last demotion was to be a Minister of State (Policy, Parliament, Labour, Employment, Youth and the Disabled) in the Office of the Prime Minister before she was abruptly shown the exit door. I anticipate Ndalichako will be back in Parliament after the elections.
Others had mixed fortunes. The then finance minister under Magufuli regime, Isidori Mpango, was unexpectedly elevated to the vice president. However, there were those who questioned his citizenship status. It was also rumoured Magufuli was the one who recommended him to be the vice president. The snag for Magufuli, he too had citizenship alabaster hanging on his neck with some suggesting he was “Mrundi” proxy!
Whether true or not, Dr. Mpango was accosted by similar Mrundi tag and some political pundits alluded that was a chief reason he was quietly relieved of his duties leading to his announcement he was not going to be part to the presidential ticket in 2025. His reasons for an abrupt retirement were fatigue and having an exchequered medical history makes a lot of sense but not everyone is buying the yarn.
There is another female politician with an interesting name called Gwajima. Her full name is Dorothy Gwajima. The surname may be under fireline because of the Bishop Gwajima’s controversial remarks over abductions, tortures and mysterious disappearances of many people during Samia’s presidency.
However, Dorothy Gwajima has nothing to do with de- Gwajimafication of CCM, and Samia’s last administration by disinfection. She is considered a professional and a safe pick to win elections if she chooses to seek parliamentary seat either in special women or in constituency of her choice. We are not sure these days how much power the electorate has over CCM candidates. Looks like that power is flippant and an endangered species. Whatever CCM mandarins want is the law of the land.
She had made a name for herself as she stout supporters of Magufuli’s denial of Covid-19. By then she was a minister for health. I expect her back in Parliament on an elected portfolio. She will also keep her parliamentary and ministerial posts.
Prime minister Majaliwa Kassim is an interesting political figure. He was accused of sleeping on the job during the handing over of power from the Magufuli regime to President Samia. Samia had openly accused him of not defending her during the transition period as Magufuli’s men claimed she was a “passing cloud.” Paradoxically, Moi too was considered a “passing cloud” after Jomo Kenyatta’s death.
Samia said:
“…huko bungeni wamekuwa wakidai mimi ni Rais wa mpito na Kassim alikaa kimya hakuwakemea… …nilienda kusoma katiba nikaona hakuna kitu kinaitwa Rais wa mpito…”
Many thought there was a pending reshuffle to sack Kassim Majaliwa as a Premier it never came to pass. Majaliwa has clinged to his docket for unclear reasons. I suspect he was considered an asset to win elections with Chadema ferocious assaults in mind. However, with Chadema out of sight, I expect him to be sidelined after the elections.
Strangely, when it comes to constitutional and election law reforms, president Samia has very little regard for the Constitution. This is what she had previously dissed the constitution:
“…. kwani katiba ni nini? Si ni kajitabu tu?…”
Well, during the power struggle in the said transition period she didn’t view the constitution as a mere booklet but a power giving document!
Another intriguing figure was Doto Biteko. He was one of pivotal figures during the Magufuli administration holding mineral ministry docket. He disappeared in one of those reshuffles only to resurface to restore Samia’s lost political fortunes in Sukumaland. He was also promoted to a ceremonial deputy prime minister docket that is only recognised in paper but has zero legal weight. He was also spoiled with the energy ministry despite lacking relevant professional credentials.
I anticipate Biteko to replace Majaliwa as premier after CCM has come to terms that there are no elections to fight for knowing Chadema has been disqualified for five years. The challenge for CCM is to win the disgruntled Magufuli political base in Sukuma land, and many view Biteko as the pointman despite lacking intellectual acumen, zeal and oration skills that defined Magufuli – the politician.
Professor Prof. Palamagamba John Aidan Mwaluko was the backbone of the Magufuli regime. He was the minister for judiciary and was later relieved after surviving one reshuffle. He is back as the Minister for Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports. He has never won any election despite being an Mp with a constituency, a corollary of opposition unlawful disqualifications. He should be happy Chadema will not contest the forthcoming elections.
Somehow, he has managed to win over Samia confidence. Therefore, I expect him to be back in Parliament and in the cabinet.
Bishop Gwajima is over with CCM. The writing was on the wall for a long time. My political feelers inform me CCM has fallen in love with former MP, Halima Mdee and would love her to regain her lost parliamentary seat. She had lost it controversially to Bishop Gwajima in 2020 and would love to have it back. CCM doesn’t have qualms if she gets it back for reasons I have already expounded in previous articles.
President Samia has referred to the Bishop Gwajima in negative terms and made it abundantly clear she will see to it he is done. So that is what will happen to his political career. It is over when president Samia declared her CCM has moved on from some of Magufuli’s strongmen when she said:
“…tutaachana na Magwajima…hatutaki kuji- Gwajimanize…”
This fallout was very personal when Gwajima made horrific references to Samia’s own scion Abdul that he too could be a victim of abductions, torture and disappearances. Bishop Gwajima also said the scion could also have his eyes gouged out and how would president Samia feel? Those were very personal attacks and more so to a mama with a son to nurture indefinitely.
Clearly, Bishop Gwajima knew what he was doing. His frustration was palpable and decided to hit back the strongest he thought possible. He knows there is no future anymore in CCM and elsewhere so he is going back to the work he does best: preaching the word of God. A much safer occupation free of intrigues of human foibles and perceptions.
I wish him well for God, unlike humanity, is always faithful to those who fear Him from generation to generation.
Gwajima fights back!
In Sunday service at his church, Gwajima has fired all cylinders promising to keep up the pressure that will ensure the fate of all the missing people numbering over 80 are known. He also warned those who may be plotting evil against him that he would reveal all their hidden secrets.
Moreover, he gave us the definition of Gwajimanization:
“…ni ujasiri usiotetereka wa kusema ukweli, haijalishi ukweli huoni mchungu au hauwapendezi walioko madarakani. Ni dhamira thabiti ya kutetea maslahiya Taifa kuliko maslahi binafsi na ni kuinua sauti kwa uthubutu mkubwa bila kuyumba kiasi cha kuisababisha ivume ndani ya himaya za mamlaka na kutiķisa misingi ya ufisadi na dhuluma. Gwajimanization.” End of quotation.
At last, the citizens are beginning to wake up that their country may have been hijacked by evil people who don’t have their best interests in their hearts.
Read more analysis by Rutashubanyuma Nestory
