Chadema Appoints New Directors in Major Reshuffle

New Leadership Takes Over Chadema’s Directorate

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

The Central Committee of Chadema has ushered in a new leadership structure following a two-day meeting in Dar es Salaam, where it appointed new directors and four regional secretaries for the Coastal, Central, Northern, and Southern zones.

A Fresh Era for Chadema’s Leadership

The recently concluded Central Committee meeting, led by Chairman Tundu Lissu, convened on March 10–11, 2025, at the party’s headquarters in Mikocheni, Dar es Salaam. Among the key agenda items was the selection of new directors and regional secretaries to fill vacant positions left by former officeholders who stepped down from their roles.

The reshuffle follows Chadema’s national elections, where Tundu Lissu triumphed over Freeman Mbowe, ending the latter’s 21-year tenure as chairman. The appointments were officially announced on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, by Apolinary Margwe, an assistant in the Directorate of Communications and Publicity.

Structural Overhaul in the Directorates

In a significant shake-up, none of the previous directors retained their positions, and several directorates have been restructured to align with Lissu’s vision. The newly formed directorates under his administration are:

• Finance and Economy – Led by Tito Kitalika

• Legal and Human Rights – Led by Gaston Garubindi

• Training and Operations – Led by John Pambalu

• Information, Publicity, and Communications – Led by Brenda Rupia

• Chadema Digital and Innovation – Yet to be filled

• Diaspora and Foreign Affairs – Led by John Kitoka

These directors will now serve under the party’s secretariat, which is overseen by Secretary General John Mnyika and his deputies, Aman Golugwa (Mainland) and Ali Ibrahim Juma (Zanzibar).

Notable Figures Leaving Office

Some key figures who previously held directorial roles and are now stepping down include:

• John Mrema (Director of Communications, Protocol, and Foreign Affairs)

• Jonathan Mndeme (Director of Legal Affairs)

• Ludovick Lutembeka (Director of Finance and Economy), who has been replaced by Tito Kitalika following a recent Central Committee meeting in Bagamoyo, Pwani.

Additionally, Chadema has introduced a Gender Desk, to be headed by Catherine Ruge, the former Secretary of the Chadema Women’s Council (Bawacha). Leonard Magere has been appointed as an expert on resources, projects, and investments.

Comparison with Mbowe’s Leadership Structure

Under the previous leadership of Freeman Mbowe, Chadema’s directorates included:

• Finance, Investment, and Administration

• Legal and Human Rights

• Communications, Protocol, and Foreign Affairs

• Elections

• Evaluation and Monitoring

The restructuring represents a shift towards a more contemporary governance model aimed at strengthening the party’s operational framework.

Regional Secretary Appointments

Alongside the directorate appointments, Chadema’s Central Committee also designated new regional secretaries for four key zones:

• Northern Zone: Totinan Ndonde, formerly an officer in the same region

• Central Zone: Ashura Masoud, who contested for the Bawacha publicity seat in the January 2025 elections, replacing Emmanuel Masonga

• Coastal Zone: Ntele Benjamin, replacing acting secretary Jerry Kerenge

• Southern Zone: Appointment details yet to be announced

Challenges and Internal Disputes

While the new appointments mark a fresh direction, reports indicate that some selections sparked intense discussions and disagreements among Central Committee members. Sources reveal that Catherine Ruge’s appointment, in particular, faced resistance. Initially proposed for the Information and Publicity Directorate, she was later assigned to lead the Gender Desk following objections from some members.

Similarly, Ruge’s previous bid for the Finance and Economy Directorate in a past meeting was unsuccessful, leading to Tito Kitalika’s appointment instead.

Some insiders claim that tensions arose as members pushed for the appointment of individuals who had played a crucial role in Lissu’s electoral victory, although this did not materialize as expected.

A senior Chadema member, who requested anonymity, commented on the selections: “The appointments are legitimate, as they were made by the rightful authority. However, they have not met the expectations of many, especially for certain key positions.”

The member, who previously ran for parliament in 2020, added: “One of Lissu’s major campaign promises was to revamp the secretariat by appointing forward-thinking individuals. People were eagerly awaiting these appointments.”

He further expressed concerns over the appointees’ experience: “Those selected lack sufficient political competition experience, except for Pambalu, who has been a teacher, a Central Committee member, and the former chairman of Bavicha.”

Another party official stated: “The party spokesperson must be deeply familiar with Chadema’s policies, history, and protocol, as they will frequently represent the party publicly. While I do not say that Brenda Rupia is unfit, the position she has been given is quite demanding.”

Who Are the New Appointees?

• John Pambalu – Former Chairman of Chadema’s Youth Wing (Bavicha) from 2019–2020, contested for the Nyamagana parliamentary seat but was unsuccessful. He also ran for chairmanship of Chadema’s Victoria Zone but lost to Ezekia Wenje.

• Gaston Garubindi – Previously served as Chadema’s Western Zone Chairman in the 2024 elections but lost his re-election bid to fellow lawyer Dickson Matata.

• Catherine Ruge – A former special seats MP from 2015–2020, she also contested the Serengeti parliamentary seat but did not win. She served as the Secretary General of Bawacha but later lost the seat to Pamela Massay.

• Brenda Rupia – Not widely known within Chadema but currently serves as the Bawacha Secretary for Kinondoni District in Dar es Salaam.

The changes in Chadema’s leadership signal a significant reorganization as the party aligns itself with its new strategic direction under Lissu’s leadership.