Chama Cha Mapinduzi

The Chama Cha Mapinduzi ("Party of the Revolution" in Swahili) is the ruling political party of Tanzania.

History

The party was created February 5, 1977, under the leadership of Julius Nyerere, as the merger of the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU), the then ruling party in Tanganyika, and the Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP), the then ruling party in Zanzibar.

TANU/CCM has dominated the politics of Tanzania since the independence of Tanganyika in 1962. Due to the merger with the ASP, from 1977 it has been also the ruling party in Zanzibar, though there its grip on power has been more contested by the Civic United Front (CUF). It was the only legal party until July 1, 1992, when amendments to the national Constitution and a number of laws permitting and regulating the formation and operations of more than one political party were enacted by the National Assembly or Bunge.

Ideology

Originally a champion of African socialism, upholder of the system of collectivized agriculture known as "Ujamaa" and firmly oriented to the left, the CCM espouses today a more pragmatic approach. It conceives of economic modernization and free market policies as ways to raise the living standards of the citizens of Tanzania, one of the poorest countries in the world. CCM hopes to continue to privatize and modernize in order to ensure:
#Increased productivity which would boost the country's revenue
#Increased employment and improved management
#Acquisition of new and modern technology
#Increased and expanded local and international markets for our products, and;
#Improved and strengthened private sector serving as the engine of the national economy while the government sharpens its focus on provision of social services, infrastructure, security and governance of the state.

Similarly, the CCM's major foreign policy focus is economic diplomacy within the international system, and peaceful coexistence with neighbors.

Electoral performance

CCM has won all elections, presidential and legislative, held both in Tanzania at state level and in Zanzibar at autonomous level under the multi-party system: 1995, 2000 and 2005.

In the last elections for Zanzibar's presidency and House of Representatives, held on 30 October 2005, incumbent president and CCM candidate Amani Abeid Karume won with 53.18% of the vote, while the party won 30 seats out of 50.

In the last national elections for Tanzania's presidency and National Assembly, held on 14 December 2005, Foreign Minister and CCM candidate Jakaya Kikwete won with 80.28% of the vote. Out of the 232 seats filled through direct election, the CCM won 206.

Leadership

TANU/CCM has had four chairmen in its history, each of whom was president of the United Republic of Tanzania during his term as party chairman. The first chairman, from 1954 to 1990, was Julius Nyerere (president of Tanganyika 1962-1964 and of Tanzania 1964-1985); the second chairman, from 1990 to 1996, was Ali Hassan Mwinyi (president of the Republic 1985-1995); the third CCM chairman, from 1996 until 2006, was Benjamin Mkapa, president of the Republic in 1995-2005. Tanzania's current president, Jakaya Kikwete, has led the party since 2006.

External links

* [http://www.ccmtz.org/indexeng.htm CCM website] in English
* [http://www.ccmtz.org/ CCM website in Swahili] (often more up to date than the English version)
* [http://www.ccmtz.org/Katiba_ya_CCM____ENG_2005_.pdf CCM constitution] (pdf file)