Africa-Press – Tanzania. ACT-WAZALENDO yesterday held its Special General Congress, reaffirming its full commitment to participating in the upcoming 2025 General Election.
Held in Dar es Salaam, the Congress also announced the party’s presidential candidates for both the Union and Zanzibar governments.
It named Mr Luhaga Mpina as its candidate for the Union presidency, with Mr Aaron Kalikawe as his running mate.
For the Zanzibar presidency, the Congress confirmed Mr Othman Masoud Othman as its flag bearer.
Their nominations were approved on Tuesday during the party’s National Executive Council meeting.
Mr Mpina, the former Member of Parliament for Kisesa under Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), defected to ACT-Wazalendo on Tuesday after failing to secure a nomination in CCM’s internal primaries ahead of the General Election.
Mpina’s move continues a trend of high-profile CCM figures joining opposition parties after failing to secure internal nominations.
Most notably, the late Edward Lowassa, former Prime Minister (2005–2008), defected to CHADEMA in 2015 to run for president.
Though unsuccessful, he later returned to CCM before his death in 2024.
Mr Mpina also becomes the second high-profile CCM defector to be entrusted with a presidential bid under ACT-Wazalendo, following the late Bernard Membe, former Foreign Affairs Minister, who unsuccessfully contested for president under ACT-Wazalendo before his passing in May 2023.
The yesterday’s Congress also saw the launch of the party’s manifesto, which outlines seven key priority areas for the Union government.
The priorities include building a resilient economy capable of generating 12 million jobs, improving social services and strengthening infrastructure.
Others include promoting equality and justice, safeguarding the environment, to strengthen a just Union based on the principles of international equality, social justice and a new diplomacy as well as to protect and manage the nation’s resources especially land, minerals, gas and the environment.
Addressing the congress, Party Leader Ms Dorothy Semu announced that ACTWazalendo had successfully fielded candidates across all 272 constituencies in Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.
“History has taught us that boycotting elections has never brought meaningful change,” she said.
“Real transformation is achieved by those who enter the arena. ACT-Wazalendo is entering this battle determined to emerge victorious,” she affirmed.
She said that the party’s decision to fully contest the election is based not on sentiment, but on a strong resolve to protect electoral rights and restore the true value of the vote, enabling citizens to freely choose their leaders.
Meanwhile, ACT-Wazalendo National Chairperson and First Vice-President of Zanzibar, Mr Othman Masoud Othman, urged members of the National Executive Council to maintain discipline and remain focused on safeguarding the interests of all Tanzanians
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