Chadema

Party for Democracy and Progress
Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Swahili)
AbbreviationCHADEMA
ChairmanFreeman Mbowe
Secretary-GeneralJohn Mnyika
SpokespersonJohn Mrema
Vice chairmanTundu Lissu
Founded28 May 1992
Youth wingBAVICHA
Women's wingBAWACHA
IdeologyConservatism
Economic liberalism
Social market economy
Political positionCentre-right[1]
Regional affiliationDemocrat Union of Africa
European affiliationACRE (regional partner) (until 2022)
International affiliationInternational Democracy Union
SloganPeople's Power
Bunge
20 / 393
Zanzibar HoR
0 / 85
EALA
0 / 9
Pan-African Parliament
0 / 5
Party flag
Website
Party website

The Party for Democracy and Progress (Swahili: Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo), commonly known as Chadema, is a centre-right political party in Tanzania.[2]

Chadema is the second-largest political party in Tanzania and campaigns on regional autonomous of self-governing states in the country.

History

[edit]

In the 1995 general election, the party won 4 out of 269 seats in the National Assembly and 41 councillors nationwide.

In 2000 election, the party did not have the presidential candidate but it won five seats in National Assembly elections held on the same day, along with 75 Councillors and three district councils: Kigoma, Karatu, and Tarime.[citation needed]

In the 2005 elections Chadema's presidential candidate, Freeman Mbowe, finished third out of ten candidates, with 5.88% of the vote. Chadema further increased its share in the national assembly as it continued becoming more and more popular, especially among younger people, and the party managed to install eleven members of parliament, in addition to 103 Councillors and the Chadema party retained the district councils of Kigoma, Tarime, and Karatu.

In the 2010 general elections, Chadema substantially increased its share of the national vote. Dr. Willibrod Slaa, Secretary-General of the party until August 2015, gained 27.1% of the vote in the presidential election, a substantial increase from the 5.88% of the vote gained by the Chadema candidate in the 2005 election. The party also won 48 seats, making it the second-largest party in the National Assembly. This was a first for the party. A further 467 Councillors and 7 District Councils were claimed by Chadema. Most of the seats won by Chadema (geographically) are constituencies found in major towns and urban areas of Tanzania, including Arusha, Moshi, Mwanza, Mbeya, and Dar es Salaam, the latter of which is Tanzania’s financial capital and its largest city.

In the general election of October 2015, Chadema joined with other political parties: CUF (Civil United Front), NLD (National League for Democracy), and NCCR-Mageuzi to form Umoja wa Katiba ya Wananchi (UKAWA) and the union was represented by one presidential candidate, Edward Lowassa.[3]

Chadema designated MP for Singida East Tundu Lissu as its presidential candidate for the 2020 Tanzanian general election. The election was held amid significant democratic backsliding and repression under president John Magufuli.[4] Lissu received 1,933,271 votes, and Chadema lost 53 seats in the National Assembly, its worst loss ever since the party was founded in 1992.

In September 2024 chairman Freeman Mbowe and his deputy Tundu Lissu were arrested by the Tanzania police, in an effort to block protests against the government.[5]

Electoral history

[edit]

Presidential elections

[edit]
Election Party candidate Votes % Result
2005 Freeman Mbowe 668,756 5.88% Lost Red XN
2010 Willbroad Slaa 2,271,491 27.05% Lost Red XN
2015 Edward Lowassa 6,072,848 39.97% Lost Red XN
2020 Tundu Lissu 1,933,271 13.04% Lost Red XN

Bunge elections

[edit]
Election Votes % Seats +/− Position Result
1995 396,825 6.16%
4 / 285
Increase 4 Steady 3rd Opposition
2000 300,567 4.23%
5 / 285
Increase 1 Decrease 5th Opposition
2005 888,133 8.2%
11 / 323
Increase 6 Increase 3rd Opposition
2010 1,839,568 23.86%
48 / 357
Increase 37 Increase 2nd Opposition
2015 4,627,923 31.75%
73 / 393
Increase 23 Steady 2nd Opposition
2020 1,933,271 13.04%
20 / 393
Decrease 53 Steady 2nd Opposition

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Chadema unveils reworked policy". The Citizen. 2018-09-26. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  2. ^ Peter, Felister (20 October 2015). "Lowassa vows to improve Tunduma border post". IPP media. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  3. ^ "Lowassa quits CCM, joins Chadema". The Narok Newspaper Edition. 29 July 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  4. ^ Harris, Marielle (5 February 2021). "Unfinished Business: Magufuli's Autocratic Rule in Tanzania".
  5. ^ "Tanzanian key opposition leaders arrested in Dar es Salaam". Al Bawaba. 23 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
[edit]