CCM vows crackdown on money politics

KIOMBOI: CHAMA Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Vice-Chairperson (Mainland), Stephen Wasira, has warned that the party will no longer tolerate illegal use of money in political related matters especially during its internal elections, saying future candidates must be chosen on merit, integrity and competence.

Mr Wasira made the remarks in Kiomboi, Iramba District, on Thursday during an internal meeting with CCM members from Iramba and Mkalama districts as part of his three-day tour of Singida Region aimed at strengthening the party.

Mr Wasira’s remarks come ahead of the party’s 2027 internal elections, with the leadership seeking to strengthen discipline and restore confidence in the process of selecting leaders. He said CCM was a strong party whose foundation was built on grassroots members, but warned that the growing influence of money in internal leadership contests was undermining its founding principles.

“We have abandoned our principles. We have turned our party into one driven by money. Today, people believe no one can secure a leadership position without spending money, and this has discouraged many members from contesting various party posts,” he said.

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Mr Wasira said the situation had reached a point where some members judged potential leaders based on their financial capacity rather than their qualifications, integrity and ability to serve. He urged members to restore the party’s founding values and reject practices that could weaken its internal democracy.

“We must abandon these wrong practices and return to the right path,” he said.

The CCM Vice-Chairperson warned that, beginning with the next internal elections in 2027, the party would take stern measures against candidates found to have used bribery to secure nominations. He also warned leaders who facilitate, support or endorse candidates involved in such practices that they would face action.

According to Mr Wasira, corruption and financial inducements distort members’ judgement and can result in unsuitable leaders being elected, thereby weakening the party’s values and institutional strength.

He called on party members to elect leaders based on merit, integrity and their capacity to serve both the party and the public. He said members should be free to contest leadership positions without intimidation or financial pressure.