CCM EXTRA ORDINARY GENERAL MEETING: All roads lead to Dodoma
DODOMA: EXPECTATIONS are running high within Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) as the party convenes for an Extraordinary General Meeting today.
The meeting, which is set to take place at the Jakaya Kikwete Convention Centre in Dodoma, will not only chart the course for the future of the party but will also select a new Vice-Chairperson for Mainland.
The pivotal moment follows the resignation of Abdulrahman Kinana in July 2024, a move that was later accepted by CCM’s Chairperson, President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Mr Kinana, a seasoned leader, had taken on the role of ViceChairperson (Mainland) in 2022 succeeding the veteran ruling party’s cadre, Mr Philip Mangula. CCM’s Chairperson, President Samia is expected to chair the crucial meeting at Dodoma’s Jakaya Kikwete Convention Centre, with political analysts maintaining that it is important ahead of the much-awaited 2025 General Election.
The party’s Ideology, Publicity and Training Secretary, Amos Makalla said recently that apart from picking Mr Kinana’s replacement, other key items on the agenda include receiving reports on the party’s activities from 2022 to 2025 and reviewing the implementation of the 2020-2025 CCM Election Manifesto.
“There are three main items for the extra-ordinary meeting. The first is to elect the vice-chairperson for CCM Mainland, a position left vacant after Kinana’s resignation. This will be one of the critical decisions made during the meeting,” said Mr Makalla.
The meeting which will be held for two days beginning today was preceded by the ruling party’s Central Committee (CC) meeting and the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, both chaired by President Samia at Chamwino State House in Dodoma on Friday.
Beginning Thursday this week, Dodoma has remained buzzing, with the city temporarily becoming a harbour of green and yellow. The city is green as the famous flags decorate the capital. Dodoma is in a festive mood and businesses boom as party cadres continue arriving in the administrative capital ahead of the General Congress.
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A spot-check by the Daily News on Saturday found out that Hotels and Lodges were fully booked to their capacity as the ruling party had booked almost all of them for their delegates. Food and drinks vendors were all smiling as delegates spent money at different kiosks, shops, restaurants and lodges.
Those doing business in the Central Business District (CBD) had yet another reason to smile as they got an opportunity to sell their items for a better part of the day.
CCM’s traditional attire of yellow and green was one of the most trending businesses in town. Until yesterday, buses decorated with CCM stickers were still arriving in long convoys as other members arrived via the Standard Gauge Railway.
Former President Jakaya Kikwete was among the delegates who boarded the SGR train from Dar es Salaam to the Capital city.
