Tanzania nullifies Chadema leadership appointments, citing quorum violation
Tanzania's Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) has nullified the appointment of eight senior officials of the opposition Chadema party, citing violations related to quorum requirements during their confirmation.
The registrar directed Chadema to adhere to the rules set out in the Political Parties Act, the party's regulations and its constitution.
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According to Tanzania's ORPP, the decision stems from a January 22, 2025, meeting of the Chadema's National Executive Council (NEC), where the necessary quorum for the appointees was not allegedly met.
Chadema's Chairman for Mwanga District, Lembrus Mchome, submitted a formal complaint to the ORPP following the NEC meeting, claiming it lacked the required quorum to endorse the appointments made by newly-elected party chairman, Tundu Lissu.
The Chadema officials affected by the decision include Secretary-General John Mnyika, Deputy Secretary-General (Mainland) Amani Golugwa and Deputy Secretary-General (Zanzibar) Ally Ibrahim Juma.
Also among the eight are central committee members Godbless Lema, Rose Mayemba, Salma Kasanzu, Hafidh Ally Saleh and chief legal advisor, Dr Rugemeleza Nshala.
Properly convened NEC meeting
The parties registrar added that the revocations will remain in effect until a properly convened NEC meeting is held to review the appointments of the eight officials.
In his formal submission to the ORPP on February 18, 2025, Mchome challenged the legality of the appointments despite Mnyika maintaining that the NEC meeting adhered to party protocols and that a 50 per cent quorum was sufficient, as the meeting was neither electoral nor focused on amending the party constitution or policies, which would have required a 75 per cent quorum.
The registrar acknowledged receipt of Mchome's letter and, in a follow-up letter dated March 31, 2025, requested a formal response from Chadema, giving the party a seven-day deadline.
Subsequently, on April 8, 2025, the registrar set a three-day deadline for the party's reply.
Chadema failed to respond, and Mchome filed another petition, insisting that the appointments be revoked.
According to The Citizen, a senior Chadema official speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed that, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, a letter from the registrar was received, supporting Mchome's position.
"This is very bad news. The registrar has sent us a letter agreeing with Mchome's claims, stating that the quorum was not met and instructing us to convene another NEC meeting with a valid quorum," the official said.
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