CCM’s Women Wing warns members against bribery heading to opinion polls

DODOMA: THE Chairperson of the  CCM’s Women Wing (UWT), Ms Mary Chatanda, has cautioned members expected to attend tomorrow’s National Special General Meeting against engaging in bribery as the wing prepares to conduct opinion polls to select candidates for Special Seats in both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.

Speaking to journalists in Dodoma today, August 1, 2025, Ms Chatanda emphasised that corruption has no place in the election process, urging members to vote based on merits rather than monetary inducements.

“The Party has made its position clear. We are fighting corruption at all levels. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has consistently denounced bribery during elections. As UWT, we echo the same call, choose candidates fairly and not because they offered you money,” she insisted.

The voting exercise, scheduled to take place at the Jakaya Kikwete Convention Centre (JKCC) in Dodoma, will cover four special groups, including NGOs, workers, university scholars, and persons with disabilities, comprising a total of 32 contestants, with eight aspirants from each category.

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According to Ms Chatanda, the group of persons with disabilities includes three candidates from the Tanzania Mainland and one from Zanzibar. The workers’ group comprises two candidates from the mainland and one from Zanzibar; the university scholars’ group has three from the mainland and one from Zanzibar; while the NGOs group features two from the mainland and one from Zanzibar.

She confirmed that all preparations for the meeting have been finalised and called upon all eligible members from both the Mainland and Zanzibar to attend and cast their votes accordingly. A total of 1,200 members are expected to participate in the exercise.

However, Ms Chatanda reminded contestants and their supporters that winning the opinion poll does not equate to automatic nomination.

“Victory in tomorrow’s vote is not the final selection. There are subsequent stages, including scrutiny and endorsement through regional implementation and political committees, whose recommendations will be forwarded to us before the matter reaches the Central Committee,” she explained.

She added that the final nomination will only be confirmed after the Party wins in the general elections, be it parliamentary, councillorship, or presidential levels.

“If a candidate does not actively campaign for the Party and contribute to securing many electoral seats, they should not expect to be nominated, especially if the number of seats available becomes limited,” she stressed.