Africa-Press – Tanzania. CHAMA Cha Ukombozi wa Umma (CHAUMMA) officially launched its election campaign yesterday at Biafra Grounds in Dar es Salaam, with its presidential candidate, Mr Salum Mwalimu, outlining a transformative agenda focused on improving citizens’ welfare, supporting small businesses and removing VAT on all food products.
Mr Mwalimu pledged that, if elected, his government would establish interest-free development funds for small businesses, sourced from 30 per cent of revenue from mineral resources.
“The country has great potential to leverage its abundant mineral wealth to uplift small entrepreneurs, increase per capita income and grow the national economy,” he said, adding that the goal is to build an economy that produces more millionaires and billionaires, leaving no one behind.
To ensure affordable access to food, Mr Mwalimu promised to remove Value Added Tax (VAT) from essential food items, including wheat flour, sugar and beans, aiming to guarantee three meals a day for all citizens.
He also committed to providing free nutritious meals to all primary and secondary school students, stressing the importance of balanced diets for academic performance and child development.
As part of efforts to improve the education sector, the CHAUMMA candidate vowed to increase the number of teachers, build more classrooms and schools and ensure that all schools have adequate sanitation and access to clean water.
In terms of workers’ welfare, Mr Mwalimu pledged to raise the minimum wage for all public servants to 800,000/- net, after deductions such as PAYE (Pay As You Earn).
Mr Mwalimu also singled out media freedom as a priority, promising to officially recognise the media as the fourth pillar of government to enhance transparency and accountability. “Progress is not built in the dark,” he said.
His running mate, Ms Devotha Minja, a veteran journalist, echoed his sentiments, saying that women and children would be at the heart of CHAUMMA’s policies.
“Economic development should be reflected in people’s pockets, not just infrastructure,” she said.
Ms Minja also announced CHAUMMA’s plan to establish food warehouses in every district, to strengthen food security and stabilise prices through strategic reserves.
“We have a plan. We are committed to ending hunger in our country,” she said.
Earlier, CHAUMMA National Chairperson Hashim Rungwe energised the crowd by pledging to provide rice for all school pupils if the party wins the 2025 General Election.
The campaign launch, marked by music, dancing and hundreds of red-clad supporters, mostly youth, demonstrated the party’s presence and ambition in the upcoming electoral race.
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