The Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) presidential primaries, 2015 took place in July 2015 to determine CCM's nominee for the Presidency of Tanzania for the 2015 election. The Chama Cha Mapinduzi (Party of the Revolution) is the country's dominant ruling party, and the longest reigning ruling party in Africa.

Incumbent president and 2010 nominee Jakaya Kikwete is ineligible for re-election due to term limits. He is looking forward to his retirement, and has described the presidency as being both "stressful and thankless". Kikwete, who also serves as the party's National Chairman, said that he was not backing anyone as his preferred and chosen successor.

More than forty candidates (including 12 Cabinet Members) collected the nomination forms. On 12 July, Minister of Works John Magufuli was selected as the party's presidential nominee, and was most likely to win. He won the presidential election by 58.46%.

Background

Dodoma Six In February 2014, the CCM's Central Committee summoned and interrogated six prospective candidates at the party's headquarters in Dodoma; and banned them from engaging in premature campaigns for a period of twelve months. They were former Prime Ministers Frederick Sumaye and Edward Lowassa, Foreign Minister Bernard Membe, Minister Stephen Wasira, Deputy Minister January Makamba and former Minister William Ngeleja. The ban was further extended in March 2015, before being lifted on 22 May 2015.

Candidates The following candidates have been listed according to the dates that they expressed interest or formally announced their candidacy. Key

Candidate Background Notes Born 1974 , Hometown: Lushoto, Tanga Region Alma mater: St. John's University (Minnesota), George Mason University Member of Parliament for Bumbuli (2010–present) Deputy Minister of Communication, Science and Technology (2012–present)Son of Yusuf Makamba, a CCM stalwart and its former SG. Denied having any intention for the presidency in March 2012. Expressed interest on 2 July 2014. Declared candidacy on 7 June 2015 (video) Links: Website, Twitter, Facebook, (Q&A Book)Born 1942 , Urambo, Tabora Region Alma mater: University of Dar es Salaam , IMEDE Member of Parliament for Urambo East (2005–present) Minister of Transport (2015–present)Claims that he refused accepting a bribe of $70,000 from a Canadian aircraft manufacturer. Expressed interest on 2 September 2014 Declared on 3 June 2015 (video)Born 1975 , Tabora Region Alma mater: Muhimbili University , Karolinska Institutet , BTH Member of Parliament for Nzega (2010–present)Declared candidacy on 7 September 2014 (speech, video) Campaign slogan: The New Tanzania We Want Links: Website, TwitterBorn 1945 , Bunda, Mara Region Alma mater: American University Member of Parliament for Bunda (2005–present) Minister of Agriculture (2015–present)Expressed interest in September 2014 Declared candidacy on 31 May 2015 (video) Links: Website , TwitterBorn 1948 , Rukwa Region Alma mater: University of Dar es Salaam Member of Parliament for Katavi (2000–present) Prime Minister (2008–present) ($120m)Expressed interest on 21 October 2014 Declared candidacy on 12 June 2015 Links: Profile Born 1970 , Singida Region Alma mater: Waldorf College , Wartburg College , Buckingham Member of Parliament for Singida North (2000–present) Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism (2014–present)Declared candidacy on 28 December 2014 Links: Website, Twitter, FacebookBorn 1953 , Lindi Region Alma mater: University of Dar es Salaam , Johns Hopkins University Member of Parliament for Mtama (2000–present) Minister of Foreign Affairs (2007–present)Expressed interest on 24 May 2015 Declared candidacy on 7 June 2015 (video) Denied reports that President Kikwete was his half-brother. Endorsed by Seif Ali Iddi, Cleopa Msuya Links: TwitterBorn 1953 , Arusha Region Alma mater: University of Dar es Salaam , University of Bath Member of Parliament for Monduli (1995–present) Former Prime Minister (2005–2008) (TSh 172 billion)Declared candidacy on 30 May 2015 (speech, video) Campaign slogan: Safari ya Matumaini (Journey of Hope) Endorsed by Kingunge Ngombale–Mwiru Links: FacebookBorn 1975 , Singida Region Alma mater: University of Dar es Salaam Member of Parliament for Iramba West (2010–present) Deputy Minister of Finance (2014–present)Declared candidacy on 31 May 2015 (video) Links: TwitterBorn ? Alma mater: ? Retired DiplomatDeclared candidacy on 1 June 2015 Born 1975 Alma mater: Mzumbe University , University of Strathclyde Member of Parliament for Kisesa (2005–present)Declared candidacy on 1 June 2015Born 1959 , Mara Region Alma mater: Tanzania Military Academy, University of Aberdeen Retired Army Officer and MP for Arusha Urban (1995–1997) Member of the East African Legislative Assembly (2012–present)Son of Julius Nyerere, Tanzania's first President Declared candidacy on 1 June 2015 (video)Born 1949 , Mbeya Region Alma mater: Aston University , University of Birmingham Member of Parliament for Rungwe East (2000–present) State Minister (w/o Portfolio) (2012–present)Declared candidacy on 1 June 2015 (speech, video)Born 1950 , Arusha Region Alma mater: Egerton Agricultural College , Harvard Kennedy School Former Member of Parliament for Hanang Former Prime Minister (1995–2005)Declared candidacy on 2 June 2015 (video)Born 1954 , Mara Region Alma mater: UDSM , University of Göttingen , TU Berlin Nominated Member of Parliament (2012–present) Minister of Energy and Minerals (2012–2015) ($120m)Declared candidacy on 2 June 2015 (video) Links: Profile Born 1957 Alma mater: Sokoine , Reading , Mweka College Member of Parliament for Busega (2010–present) Minister of Livestock and Fisheries Development (2014–present)Declared candidacy on 2 June 2015Born 1956 , Zanzibar Alma mater: University of Delhi , University of Pune African Union Ambassador to the United States (2007–present)Declared candidacy on 3 June 2015 Links: FacebookBorn 1956 Alma mater: University of Dar es Salaam Member of Parliament for Chato (2000–present) Minister of Works (2010–present)Declared candidacy on 3 June 2015 (video)|Born 1945 , Unguja, Zanzibar Alma mater: Howard University, UC Berkeley Vice President (2010–present)Declared candidacy on 3 June 2015Born 1967 Alma mater: University of Dar es Salaam Member of Parliament for Sengerema (2010–present) Minister of Energy and Minerals (2008–2012)Declared candidacy on 4 June 2015 (video) Links: TwitterBorn: 1963 Alma mater: UDSM , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Director General of the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR)Daughter of former Prime Minister John Malecela. Declared candidacy on 7 June 2015 Links: TwitterBorn 1945 Alma mater: University of Dar es Salaam , UToronto Permanent Representative of Tanzania to the U.N. (2003–2010) United Nations Special Envoy for Somalia (2010–2013)Stated that he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Declared candidacy on 9 June 2015 (video)Born 1943 Alma mater: UDSM , Lakehead University , Simon Fraser Former Director General of Tanzania Intelligence and Security Service (TISS) Member of Parliament for Makete (2000–2005)Declared candidacy on 10 June 2015Born 1956 Alma mater: Institute of Accountancy Arusha , Salford University Member of Parliament for Iringa Urban (2000–2010) Former Deputy Minister of FinanceDeclared candidacy on 11 June 2015Born 1956 Alma mater: UDSM , University of Konstanz Former Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (2007–2012) Minister of Justice and Constitution Affairs (2014–present)Declared candidacy on 15 June 2015 Links: (Twitter)Born 1945 , Unguja, Zanzibar Alma mater: University of Dar es Salaam Retired Brigadier General and former Chief Justice (2007–2010) President of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights (2010–present) Anglican Church pastorDeclared candidacy on 17 June 2015Born 1955 Alma mater: UDSM , University of Hamburg Member of Parliament for Kyela (2005–present) Minister of East African Cooperation (2015–present)Denied having interest in January 2015 Declared candidacy on 19 June 2015

Other candidates CandidateAge Background Declared onMaliki Malupu Postgraduate student at Mzumbe University1 June 2015. Amos Siyantemi 4 June 2015Godwin Mwapongo 43 High Court Advocate 6 June 2015 Peter Nyalali Former soldier 7 June 2015 Leonce Mulenda 7 June 2015Eldoforce Bilohe 43 Farmer 9 June 2015Boniface Ndego 10 June 2015Athuman Mwariko 66 Painter, sculptor and cultural scientist. Designed the Tanzanian Coat of arms 12 June 2015Muzzammil Kalokola Alma mater: University of NairobiChairperson of Mwalimu Nyerere Ideology Conservation Society 13 June 2015Joseph Chagama 15 June 2015Patrick Chokala Former diplomat and Press Secretary to presidents Mwinyi and Mkapa 18 June 2015Ritha Ngowi 50 Community Development Officer 22 June 2015Helena Elinawinga 41 Alma mater: School of International Service 25 June 2015Antony Chalamila 66 27 June 2015Amos Robert

Potential candidates Anna Tibaijuka, former Lands Minister. Her prospects were diminished when she was sacked by the President after receiving $1 million from a businessman. Tibaijuka denied any wrongdoing and said that she accepted the money as a donation for a school. Anne Makinda, Speaker Hussein Mwinyi, Defence Minister

Declined to run Salim Ahmed Salim, former Prime Minister Joseph Warioba, former Prime Minister

Nomination process The nomination forms cost a non-refundable TSh 1 million (US$500). A total of 42 party members collected the forms from 3 June but only 38 managed to return them by the 2 July deadline. The four disqualified aspirants were Anthony Chalamila, Helena Elinewinga, Muzammil Kalokola and Peter Nyalile. Each candidate was required to solicit sponsorship from at least 450 party members from a minimum of 15 regions (including three regions from Zanzibar). Lowassa's campaign team claims to have gained sponsorship from more than 800,000 party members from all the regions.

The meetings will take place in Dodoma at the party's headquarters and at the newly inaugurated Dodoma Convention Centre. More than 10,000 delegates and their retinues were expected to arrive in the capital.

Central Committee On 11 July 2015 at 01:20 EAT (UTC +3), the party tweeted the names of the five candidates selected by its Central Committee from the list of 38 aspirants:

National Executive Committee On 11 July, the National Executive Committee selected the three finalists:

National Congress The party's National Congress selected Works Minister John Magufuli as the party's 2015 presidential nominee.

Opinion polls Poll source Date Sample size Undecided Lowassa Pinda Membe Sitta Magufuli Nchemba Makamba MwandosyaTwaweza September 2014 1,445 33%13.0% 12.0% 5.0% 4.0% 3.0% – – –Positive Thinkers March 2015 3,298 2.4%22.8% 3.2% 5.9% 2.2% 6.8% 10.6% 1.6% 1.2%Samunge S.S. Research Center 2013–2015 7,000 –20.7% 2.4% 7.0% – 7.6% – 4.8% –REDET 23–26 June 2015 1,250 –27.0% 7.2% 8.2% 0.6% 6.6% 1.0% 0.8% 3.1%

At the party's 8th National Congress in 2012, the following four aspirants were the favourites among the NEC delegates and were elected by them: Wasira (89%), Makamba (87%), Nchemba (84%) and Membe (61%).

Post-nomination events Defections Both former prime ministers Edward Lowassa and Frederick Sumaye defected to the opposition Chadema party after front-runner candidate Lowassa was not selected. Lowassa was then chosen as Chadema's presidential candidate and got 39.97% of the vote; the highest in opposition history. However, both later on re-joined CCM in 2019.

Expulsions In 2020, Bernard Membe was expelled from the party. He re-joined CCM in 2022.

Deaths