Africa-Press – Tanzania. AT just 41 years old, Mr Hassan Almas stands at the threshold of the highest political stage in Tanzania, carrying with him the hopes of a party that believes the country is ready for a fresh start.
As the presidential candidate of the National Reconstruction Alliance (NRA), Mr Almas represents both continuity and change, a blend of youthful energy and long-tested political commitment.
Born in Kigoma in 1984, Almas grew up witnessing both the potential and struggles of his homeland.
The shores of Lake Tanganyika offered him a view of abundant resources, but the everyday lives of the people around him told another story: Scarcity, inequality and underutilised opportunities.
Those early impressions, he often recalls, shaped his determination to join public life. His political journey began during his university days in Zanzibar, where he pursued a degree in public administration.
It was there, amid late-night debates and campus activism, that he first encountered NRA leaders who were also studying at the institution.
Drawn to their vision of nationalism above party loyalties, he joined the NRA, a decision that would set the course for his future.
By 2009, still a young man in his mid-twenties, Almas was already serving as the party’s National Director of Youth.
He describes this role as a baptism of fire, throwing him into the heart of grassroots mobilisation and youth struggles.
“Politics, to me, is not just about elections. It is about how ordinary people live and whether they believe they have a stake in the future of their country,” he once said in a televised interview on TBC1.
From there, he rose steadily through NRA’s ranks, serving as the Director of Parliamentary Affairs and International Relations before being appointed Deputy Secretary General.
For six years, he helped steer the party’s strategy and expand its network, before ascending to the role of Secretary General, a position he still holds as he steps into the presidential race. His ambition was tested through successive contests.
In 2013, he stood for councillor in Chamazi Ward, Dar es Salaam, during a by-election prompted by the sudden death of the serving ward leader.
Two years later, in 2015, he ran for Member of Parliament in Kigoma Urban Constituency and even contested for the prestigious post of Speaker of the National Assembly.
“I have contested for nearly every leadership position in our political system,” he told his supporters.
“The only role left was the presidency, and I believe this is the right time.”
The presidential candidate insists that his motivation to seek the presidency is not about personal ambition but about tackling what he describes as urgent national imperatives.
At the heart of his vision lies the promise of free healthcare, economic empowerment of youth and women, provision of clean water across the nation, creation of a long-term National Development Policy and the reduction of government waste to channel resources into essential services.
On health, he has pledged universal free medical care, noting that vulnerable groups; children, mothers, the elderly and people with disabilities still struggle despite existing policies.
“Tanzania has enough wealth to guarantee the health of its citizens. No mother should die while giving life simply because she cannot afford medical bills,” he argues.
For women and youth, he plans to expand access to capital, skills training and enterprise support, saying their inclusion is central to lifting households out of poverty.
Perhaps his most distinctive proposal is the creation of a National Development Policy, a permanent blueprint to replace the current dependence on shifting election manifestos.
In his view, manifestos are temporary and too often tied to personalities rather than national priorities.
“Under NRA, manifestos will simply be contributions, not the master plan. The National Development Policy will remain the guiding document for all governments, regardless of who is in power,” Almas explained.
He believes this will protect Tanzania from policy disruptions and ensure continuity in long-term projects, especially in infrastructure, education and industrialisation.
Mr Almas has also promised a radical restructuring of government to cut wasteful spending.
His proposal is to reduce the cabinet to just ten ministries, supported by specialised departments led by technocrats.
By halving government expenditure, he believes the savings can be redirected into education, healthcare and water supply.
“Bigger government does not mean better governance. We will make the state lean, efficient and focused on service delivery,” he said.
His economic model borrows from pragmatism: Retain the progress achieved by the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), but infuse it with urgency and efficiency.
He has openly acknowledged CCM’s role in initiating transformative projects like the electrified Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and road expansion.
“The ruling party has done a lot, but it is tired. While the world is running, they are walking. We want to make them run again, so that Tanzania can rise from a lower-middle-income economy to a high-income one,” Almas remarked in a campaign speech.
The NRA manifesto frames its ideology in uncompromisingly nationalist terms.
“Utaifa kwanza kabla ya vyama vyetu” (Nation first, before our parties) is its rallying cry. For Almas, this means ending the divisive cycle of party politics that weakens national unity.
He envisions a government of inclusion, an administration that harnesses talents from across the political spectrum, regardless of affiliation.
“Why should we sideline capable Tanzanians because of their party membership? The NRA government will recruit on merit, patriotism and skill, not political loyalty,” he emphasised.
The plan is to create an inclusive coalition government that brings together parties and independents, thereby diluting political sabotage and promoting cohesion.
In his campaign literature, Almas appeals directly to ordinary Tanzanians, mothers, fathers, youth and elders, urging them to seize the 2025 election as a turning point.
He argues that the NRA is determined to rebuild Tanzania from a mindset shaped by partisanship to one shaped by national identity.
“Our vision is to eliminate poverty, maintain peace, uphold accountability, strengthen the Union and instill a spirit of patriotism,” reads part of the NRA manifesto.
He reminds that he has lived the life of a farmer’s son in Kigoma, studied as a struggling student in Zanzibar and risen through the rough-and-tumble of Tanzanian politics. Each stage, he insists, has prepared him for the task of steering the nation.
His critics dismiss him as too young and inexperienced to handle the presidency, but his supporters counter that his blend of youth and political seasoning is precisely what Tanzania needs.
At a time when the country is balancing between economic opportunity and structural challenges, Mr Almas has positioned himself as both a critic of the old order and a custodian of its best achievements. Whether his message will resonate nationally remains to be seen.
But as election season heats up, one thing is clear: The NRA candidate has transformed himself from a little-known student activist into a presidential hopeful whose voice is now part of the national conversation on Tanzania’s future.
And in his own words: “We say, Nation first, parties later. If we unite as Tanzanians, no one can stop us from building a strong, inclusive and prosperous country.”
For More News And Analysis About Tanzania Follow Africa-Press
