New leaders elected

THE ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) 10th National Congress on Wednesday endorsed its Constitutional amendments as a move aimed at improving efficiency and increasing engagement in the party’s top level meetings.

CCM Chairperson President Samia Suluhu Hassan disclosed this, while presiding over the meeting held at the Jakaya Kikwete Convention Centre in the country’s capital Dodoma.

The President outlined the endorsed recommendation to increase the number of National Executive Committee (NEC) members from the previous 15 seats in the mainland and Zanzibar to 20 for both sides.

Similarly, she indicated raising the number of Central Committee members at the national level from seven appointees to 10 as well as the inclusion of Heads of Units of the various wings at national level in the meetings.

Elaborating, the Head of State noted that the decision to create the position of Regional Secretary for Ideology and Publicity under employment basis was to promote accountability.

“Formerly the position focused on selecting people who would only sing in meetings instead of publicising the party agenda,” said the President indicating that might have been prompted due to lack of competency or other factors.

In promoting further the party’s ideologies, the position will be assumed by well qualified individuals in specified periods.

“Currently, the ones assuming the position will continue with their roles for the next three months before other processes take over,” noted the President, indicating that the same procedure may be scaled down in case of financial ability.

On the other hand, the suggestion to extend the roles of the NEC members comes as a longtime concern that they were not engaged.

Earlier, the CCM Secretary General, Mr Daniel Chongolo noted that the recommendations were attributed during the various CCM Central Committee meetings to carry out minor amendments to the party’s Constitution.

Mr Chongolo outlined the objectives of carrying out the Constitutional amendments as including renewing the structure of the party, extending the scope of engagement of its members as well as strengthening democracy within the party and its various wings.

“The decision will among other things strengthen the party and extend its scope coupled with broad ideas and the liveliness in the different political, economic, and social aspects,” said Mr Chongolo.

Based on the employment of the Regional Secretary for Ideology, he said that all other members at the regional level are employees of the party except for the Regional Secretary for Ideology.

As such, to strengthen further the party’s roles and implementation of regional secretariats work particularly the ideology and publicity section, the post will be on an employable basis.

“In enabling the party to carry out preparations for their employment, it has been suggested that the leadership duration for the position of Regional Secretary for Ideology and Publicity assume the positions to March 2023,” added the Secretary General.