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While battling tribal and religious accusations, these are the key dates for Tanzania’s CHADEMA.

January 20, 2024January 20, 2024By Mkufi Dindai
While battling tribal and religious accusations, these are the key dates for Tanzania’s CHADEMA.

Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) was founded 32 years ago (May 1992). The founding leaders of CHADEMA include Mr Edwin Mtei, who was the Governor of the Central Bank (father-in-law to the current Chairman, Mr Freeman Mbowe), Brown Ngululupi, Dr Amani Walid Kabourou, Philemon Ndesamburo, among others.

Religion and ethnicity have been a thorn in CHADEMA’s history, especially with the continued leadership of Chairman Freeman Mbowe, the son-in-law of the party’s founder, Mr. Edwin Mtei. Allegations of tribalism and religious bias continue to haunt CHADEMA, particularly on social media, where many of its supporters seem to belong to the same religious group or regional background, as indicated by research on surnames and first names. Despite these challenges, CHADEMA has consistently denied these allegations.

Important dates

  • May 28, 1992 – Establishment
  • In 1995, CHADEMA won 4 parliamentary seats and 42 council seats.
  • In 2000, CHADEMA won 5 parliamentary seats and 75 council seats.
  • In 2005, CHADEMA won 11 parliamentary seats and 103 council seats.
  • In 2010, CHADEMA won 49 parliamentary seats and 467 council seats, without including by-elections.

Allegations of nepotism Chadema leadership

The first chairman was Edwin Mtei (1992 to 1998) from Kilimanjaro. The second chairman, Bob Nyanga Makani (brother-in-law to the first chairman/married to the younger sister of Edwin Mtei. Mrs. Vickie Kakuyu Makani), served from 1998 to 2003.

From 2003 to the present, the chairman has been Freeman Mbowe, who is the son-in-law of the first chairman (married to Edwin Mtei’s daughter, Dr. Lilian Mtei). Political analysts in Tanzania are advising CHADEMA to reflect on its future.