With CCM reeling from a dearth of moral leaders, Bishop Gwajima who is CCM member of the National Council and MP has begun in earnest to fill this void albeit with heavy consequences.
Today he lamented about being misconceived of his earlier salvo on wanton abuses of human rights. He had warned Tanzania was transcending into lawlessness by condoning abductions torture and political assassinations. He complained that his views which had nothing to do with the ministry he led ended with a ban of his mega churches.
He said a number of preachers lost their jobs and his congregation’s constitutional rights to worship were also abrogated. He didn’t dwell there though because he had a bigger fish to skewer today. He made a vital finding that without Chadema in the ballot box, CCM October win will be illegitimate.
Albeit the Parliament had been dissolved but could still be recalled for two weeks to address Chadema’s election apathy. Gwajima has a lot of temerity that is lacking in most of CCM leadership. He is a guy who shies not to confront tough issues head on notwithstanding the potential risks. In fact, Gwajima is a risk lover and that qualifies him to be an inveterate gambler.
Again, while I applaud Gwajima for an audacious effort to melt the ice, it is lack of specificity that his leadership at the hour of reckoning was his major frailty. What kind of minimal reforms can be addressed without changing Articles of the constitution, the election laws and its obnoxious rules?
This article peeks at what could possibly be minimal reforms or lack of them at this hour of judgment.
A summary regarding the statement by Kawe MP (CCM) and Bishop Josephat Gwajima:
Summary of the Statement:
1. Call for Reforms:
Bishop Gwajima stated it is essential for CCM to implement “minor reforms” to enable the opposition party CHADEMA to participate in Tanzania’s 2025 General Election. He emphasized that a “meaningful political victory cannot be achieved without a strong competitor.”
2. Reasons for Change:
– He views CHADEMA as a crucial political competitor.
– He claims the remaining time (until October 2025) is sufficient to implement these reforms.
3. Specific Proposal:
– Urged CCM (with over 10 million members) to “allow CHADEMA” to access feasible reforms.
– Called for CCM and CHADEMA to “engage” for the sake of the election.
4. Delivery of Statement:
– Made via his YouTube channel, highlighting evolving methods of political communication among leaders.
Political Context in Tanzania:
– CHADEMA is the main opposition party but faces legal and political barriers to electoral participation.
– Gwajima (a religious leader and CCM politician) appears to voice an unconventional stance within his party, advocating for a “strong competitor” to participate.
– This statement may fuel debates about political reforms and multi-party democracy in Tanzania. It could influence discussions on CCM-opposition relations and potential legal reforms ahead of 2025.
Is There Room For Minimum Reforms?
The call by Bishop Josephat Gwajima (CCM MP for Kawe) for “minimal reforms” to enable CHADEMA’s participation in Tanzania’s October 2025 elections presents a paradoxical blend of political courage and strategic vagueness. To assess its feasibility, we must examine the legal, political, and operational realities using the search results.
1. The Core Proposal: Gwajima’s “Minimal Reforms”.
– Objective:
Allow CHADEMA to contest elections without comprehensive legal overhauls.
– Rationale:
Gwajima argues that CCM’s legitimacy requires a credible opponent, stating: “A meaningful political victory cannot be achieved without a strong competitor“.
– **Urgency**: He claims the 3-month window (July–October 2025) is sufficient for limited adjustments .
2. CHADEMA’s Exclusion: The Legal Quagmire.
CHADEMA’s disqualification stems from multiple legal barriers:
– Electoral Code Refusal:
Barred by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) for not signing a mandatory conduct code, which it deemed illegitimate without prior electoral reforms.
– Treason Charges:
Leader Tundu Lissu faces treason charges (potentially punishable by death) for inciting election boycotts under the “No Reforms, No Elections” campaign.
– Judicial Barriers:
Tanzania’s laws prohibit challenging presidential results in court and ban independent candidates.
3. Can “Minimal Reforms” Work? Pathways and Obstacles.
Potential Avenues.
– Nomination Process Adjustments:
Waive CHADEMA’s code-of-conduct requirement or extend deadlines. Gwajima leverages CCM’s dominance (10M+ members) to push internal consensus.
– Legal Leniency:
Suspend Lissu’s trial or reduce charges to enable CHADEMA’s participation. This faces hurdles as prosecutors cite “incitement to rebellion“.
– Parliamentary Recall:
Though dissolved, Parliament could be recalled for emergency amendments (e.g., provisional candidate registration). Gwajima implies CCM’s control makes this feasible.
Fatal Obstacles.
– CCM Factionalism:
President Samia Hassan’s faction supports limited openness, but Magufuli-era hardliners dominate party organs. They recently deregistered Gwajima’s church to silence dissent.
– Systemic Repression:
The Societies Act lets the government deregister entities (e.g., churches, parties) without due process. Reforming this would exceed “minimal” scope.
– Opposition Distrust:
CHADEMA demands structural reforms: an independent NEC, transparent voting, and judicial review of results. Gwajima’s plan addresses none. Besides, what Chadema quests falls within the ambit of constitutional reforms unthinkable given the political hostility to touch it.
Moreover, even if authorities adopt the recommendations of Joseph Sinde Warioba of annulling the INEC provisions behind barring Chadema from taking part in the elections for five years, that effort alone may not tow Chadema to the ballot box.
However, knocking off the INEC rules that made it mandatory to take part in elections was to sign electoral ethics rules that would be a brilliant move: it would put Chadema in a messy quandary. Chadema will have unhindered right to participate in the elections save for their own recalcitrant stance, not imposed by INEC.
Chadema have said “No reform, No Election” was not a boycott now they will have to walk the talk by taking part in the elections despite its many reservations of what amounts to “free and fair” elections
4. Gwajima’s Gambit: Political Calculus.
– Personal Risk:
Gwajima is already marginalized:
– His church was deregistered for “mixing religion and politics“.
– CCM members question his absenteeism and unmet campaign promises.
– Strategic Void:
He offers no specifics. “Minimal reforms” could mean anything from symbolic gestures (e.g., public dialogues) to legal tweaks – the latter unlikely without parliamentary recall.
– Timeline Trap:
With voter registration incomplete and campaigns imminent, procedural changes (e.g., ballot access) require bureaucratic agility absent in Tanzania’s electoral machinery.
5. Broader Implications: Legitimacy vs. Stability.
– CCM’s Dilemma:
Barring CHADEMA risks delegitimizing the election, but concessions could energize opposition. The party’s manifesto emphasizes “stability” over pluralism.
– Regional Apathy:
SADC/AU have ignored Tanzania’s democratic backsliding (e.g., abductions, media bans), reducing pressure for compromises.
– Public Sentiment:
59% of Tanzanians prefer multiparty democracy, but trust in opposition is low. Gwajima’s move may appeal to reform-minded voters without alienating CCM loyalists.
Conclusion: A Gesture Without Substance?
Gwajima’s call is tactically audacious but practically hollow. *Feasible “minimal reforms” are limited to procedural concessions. (e.g., fast-tracking CHADEMA’s registration), but these ignore CHADEMA’s core demands.
With CCM hardliners resurgent, Gwajima lacks leverage to force changes. His proposal reflects a personal bid for moral authority within a party increasingly intolerant of dissent – not a viable roadmap for democratic competition. As Tanzania veers toward a de facto one-party election, Gwajima’s “void-filling” leadership may only highlight CCM’s reform paralysis.
Read more analysis by Rutashubanyuma Nestory
