Seven months after the general elections that took place on October 29, 2025, the fight for the presidency in 2030 is already causing internal friction in the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). This topic has become a frequent topic of discussion among government and party officials, leading political analysts to suggest that some leaders are putting their future ambitions ahead of their current responsibilities.
Stakeholders have different views on this trend. While some argue that these early maneuvers impede service delivery, others suggest that the party should use its constitution and rules to punish those who act prematurely. A senior SCC official, who asked not to be named, noted that the tension was palpable: «The fight is happening behind the scenes. Those who are interested are already organizing, and we expect this to intensify in the run-up to next year's internal party elections». The source added that these intra-party elections will be crucial in shaping the 2030 landscape as candidates seek to appoint their loyalists to key posts.
High-ranking officials have publicly criticized this election campaign.On 23 May 2026, Prime Minister Dr. Mwigulu Nchimba condemned rumours that a succession plan based on religious affiliation would be adopted by 2030. He expressed disappointment that the nation was discussing elections instead of focusing on development. Similarly, SCC (Mainland) vice-chairman Stephen Wazira urged members to stop discussing the 2030 race, calling it a distraction from the party's current mandate. President Samia Suluhu Hassan also touched on the issue on December 2, 2025, warning ministers with presidential ambitions to resign if they want to achieve their goals, stressing that their current positions require full commitment to society.
In Zanzibar, the debate has taken a different turn: some members of the House of Representatives are pushing for constitutional amendments that would allow President Hussain Mwinyi to run for a third term. Dr Mwinyi has repeatedly rejected these calls, most recently on 23 May 2026, stating that he respects the Constitution of Zanzibar and intends to resign after the end of his two presidential terms.
Minister Paul Makonda warned that those campaigning actively now will not succeed in 2030 and should instead step aside if they cannot support the current government.
Political analyst Magabilo Masambu argues that this early maneuvering is a sign that leaders are failing to cope with their current responsibilities. Professor Ali Makame added that the frequent public reprimands from senior leaders indicate that the party is struggling to contain clandestine activities that contradict its official position. Conversely, lawyer and analyst Ibrahim Bendera suggests that while advance preparation is a natural part of politics, a party should go beyond verbal warnings and enforce its constitution if it identifies unscrupulous members.
