Chama cha Wananchi (CUF) to Challenge Registrar’s Decision on 2024 Leadership Election

Dar es Salaam

Chama cha Wananchi (CUF) has expressed dissatisfaction with the decision by the Registrar of Political Parties to nullify the results of the party’s 2024 leadership election, claiming that the ruling contains legal flaws and violates the principle of natural justice.

Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam at the party’s offices, CUF Acting Secretary General, Magdalena Sakaya, said the National Governing Council (BKUT) exercised its constitutional and regulatory mandate to make temporary amendments to certain party regulations to ensure transparency and unity during the election process.

During the election, the party’s General Assembly elected Ibrahim Lipumba as National Chairperson, Mabrouk Seif Salum as Vice Chairperson for Zanzibar, and Othman Dunga as Vice Chairperson for Mainland, alongside members of the National Governing Council.

According to Sakaya, BKUT temporarily suspended three key regulations: the rule limiting the number of shortlisted candidates to a maximum of three for each top position; Regulation 7.1.4 requiring a winner to secure more than half of the valid votes; and the rule governing the time allocated for candidates to present themselves and the number of questions allowed. She said the move aimed to allow all qualified candidates to contest directly at the General Assembly, with the winner determined by a simple majority of votes.

Following the election, several members led by Maftah Nachuma filed complaints with the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, challenging the results on the grounds that the winners did not obtain more than half of the valid votes.

However, CUF has questioned the timing of the decision, noting that the complaints were submitted more than a year ago, while the ruling was only issued on February 13, 2026.

Sakaya stated that in his decision, the Registrar acknowledged that BKUT has the legal authority to suspend its own regulations. He also accepted the minutes of the BKUT meeting that convened the General Assembly, which were signed by the then Chairperson of the meeting, Prof. Lipumba, and the party’s then Secretary General.

Nevertheless, the party claims that the Registrar disregarded the contents of those minutes, arguing that they did not reflect what was discussed during the meeting, despite lacking direct evidence, as no representative from his office attended the session.

CUF also expressed surprise at the Registrar’s Office issuing a timetable for a repeat election, insisting that the responsibility to organize and oversee internal party elections lies with the party’s own organs in accordance with its constitution and regulations.

Sakaya said the decision to nullify the election results of the three top leaders was made without granting them an opportunity to be heard before the ruling was delivered, which the party considers a violation of the principle of natural justice as protected under the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania.

She added that the affected leaders were not given a chance to defend themselves against the allegations raised, a move CUF interprets as bias and the application of double standards by the Registrar’s Office.

CUF has stated that it will take appropriate legal action to challenge the decision and reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the party’s autonomy and internal democratic principles.

“We stand for justice, transparency and the rule of law. We will not accept the distortion of party procedures through decisions that disregard fundamental rights,” Sakaya said.