The departure of Samia Suluhu Hassan’s deputy from Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) on July 29, following the removal of two prominent party figures from the cabinet, indicates major shifts in Tanzania’s leadership landscape ahead of the upcoming elections.
Political heavyweight Abdulrahman Kinana stepped down as vice chairperson of the ruling party, citing exhaustion and the need for rest.
In a statement released late Monday, the CCM announced that President Samia, the party leader, accepted Kinana’s resignation “with a heavy heart.”
His departure follows closely on the heels of her dismissal of two senior cabinet ministers, who, alongside Kinana, played a key role in securing her predecessor John Magufuli’s narrow victory over the strong opposition candidate Edward Lowassa in the 2015 presidential race.
Foreign Minister January Makamba and Information Minister Nape Nnauye were removed from their positions on July 21 in a minor cabinet reshuffle, signaling a potential period of intrigue as Samia gears up for her presidential re-election campaign next year.
It is believed that Makamba and Nnauye were dismissed due to concerns about their loyalty to President Samia and her leadership style, as Tanzania approaches its civic elections later this year, which will influence the 2025 general election.
Kinana, who will be 73 in October, has served as CCM’s vice chairperson for mainland Tanzania and as Samia’s key supporter since April 2022.
Observers suggest that the resignations of these key figures are part of a strategic power shift within Samia’s administration, which is intensifying in anticipation of the 2025 and 2030 presidential elections.
Kinana, a prominent behind-the-scenes player in CCM’s complex political arena, was formerly the party’s secretary-general but stepped down in 2018 following disagreements with then-President Magufuli.
This event also coincided with Magufuli’s dismissal of Makamba and Nnauye from his cabinet, leading to speculation about why the three key architects of his 2015 presidential campaign were suddenly sidelined.
All three were later reinstated to prominent political roles after Samia assumed the presidency following Magufuli’s death in 2021.
However, Amos Makala, CCM’s secretary for publicity and ideology, stated in a statement on Monday night that Kinana’s resignation was unrelated to the recent cabinet reshuffle.
The statement included President Samia’s comments, noting that Kinana had requested from the outset that his term as vice chairperson be brief. “It is true that I promised you a short term when I asked you to take on the vice chair position. I genuinely hoped you would continue, but as you have insisted on stepping down, I must honor that promise and accept your resignation with a heavy heart,” she said.
As Samia prepares to seek re-election in 2025, having transitioned from vice president to president following Magufuli’s death, experts anticipate further changes within the party and government as the election approaches.
During his tenure, Kinana led CCM’s reconciliation talks with the main opposition party, Chadema, which ultimately failed in mid-2023, with both parties blaming each other for the breakdown.