Africa-Press – Tanzania. SEASONED journalist Mr Daniel Chongolo has been appointed the Secretary General (SG) of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).
Mr Chongolo was serving as Kinondoni District Commissioner (DC) in Dar es Salaam region since July 2018, having served in the same position in Longido District in Arusha region.
He has been a CCM cadre for some time. In the past, Mr Chongolo was the Head of Information and Communication Unit of the party under the Department of Policy and Publicity (Propaganda Unit).
He is an experienced leader and has been instrumental in by-elections in Busanda, Igunga, Arumeru East, Kiteto and Kalenga constituencies. He was transferred to Longido as the constituency was getting ready for a by-election.
He holds a degree in Mass Communications from Tumaini University. He takes the new post that had been vacant since February 26 when the holder, Dr Bashiru Ali was appointed by the late President John Magufuli to be the Chief Secretary.
Dr Bashiru had served as SG for two years and four months. He left the seat to take the CS post, replacing the fallen Ambassador John Kijazi who died on 17th February this year at a Dodoma hospital.
Dr Bashiru was later relieved of his duties by President Samia Suluhu Hassan and was instead appointed to be a Member of Parliament (MP) in March this year, and the seat has since then remained vacant.
The replacement comes after Mama Samia assumed the post of CCM Chairperson, the first ever woman on the post in the country’s history.
Mr Chongolo was declared as the SG after a national congress took place in Dodoma and was attended by 1,862 members at the Jakaya Kikwete Convention Centre under a theme ‘A Strong Party, A Solid Government, Work in Progress’, looking to carry forward all good deeds by the late Chairman Magufuli who died on 17th March this year at a Dar es Salaam hospital.
In other appointments announced by the then Ideology and Publicity Secretary, Mr Humphrey Polepole are of Mr Shaka Hamdu Shaka who takes the former’s post; Mr Frank George Hawasi (Secretary – Economics and Finance) and Colonel (rtd) Ngemela Lubinga (Secretary – Political Affairs and International Relations).
The new National Executive Committee Secretary for Organisation is Ms Mouldine Kastico, taking over from Mr Pereira Silima who will be assigned other national duties.
Ruvuma Regional Commissioner (RC), Ms Christina Mndeme (pictured below)becomes the new Deputy Secretary General (Mainland), taking over from Mr Rodrick Mpogolo who will also be assigned other national duties.
The Deputy SG for Zanzibar, Mr Abdallah Juma Sadala retains his post. Congress members endorsed Mama Samia as chairperson of the ruling party.
The congress was also attended by retired leaders, including former presidents Ali Hassan Mwinyi and Jakaya Kikwete. Former SGs who attended were Mr Abdulrahman Kinana and Mr Wilson Mukama.
Others were wives and widows of former leaders, including Mama Anna Mkapa, Mama Fatma Karume, Mama Sitti Mwinyi, Mama Hadija Mwinyi, Mama Regina Lowassa and Mama Asia Kawawa.
In attendance also were retired prime ministers, Mr Joseph Warioba, Mr John Malecela, Mr Frederick Sumaye and Mr Mizengo Pinda.
Former Zanzibar Chief Minister Shamsi Vuai Nahodha and former Second Vice President, Ambassador Seif Idd were also present. With them were retired vice chairmen, Amani Abeid Karume, Pius Msekwa na retired Vice President Dr Mohammed Gharib Billal.
