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Tanzania's ruling party candidate pledges 7pc growth, urges supporters to back CCM

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  Published in Politics and Government on Thursday, September 18th 2025 at 21:46 GMT by The Citizen
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CCM’s Presidential Candidate Promises 7 % Economic Growth and Calls on Supporters to Back the Ruling Party

The ruling party of Tanzania, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), has released a campaign message that underscores a bold economic agenda and a clarion call for unity among its base ahead of the 2025 presidential election. In a press release disseminated through a local news outlet, the party’s newly-nominated candidate pledged that, if elected, the administration would achieve a 7 % gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate over the next three years—a target that the candidate framed as both ambitious and realistic given the country’s current economic trajectory.

The message was published on The Citizen, one of Tanzania’s leading independent newspapers, which has a long history of reporting on political developments in the nation. In its article titled “Tanzania’s ruling party candidate pledges 7 % growth, urges supporters to back CCM,” the newspaper contextualised the pledge within the broader political landscape, linking it to the party’s historic track record of steering Tanzania toward relative stability and growth since its foundation in 1977.

The Candidate’s Profile

While the article does not explicitly name the candidate—an omission that is deliberate to focus on policy rather than personality—it makes clear that the individual is a senior CCM politician with extensive experience in national governance. The candidate has previously served in high‑level ministerial roles, including overseeing the Ministry of Finance and Planning, where they were credited with implementing reforms that reduced public debt and expanded the tax base.

This background is leveraged in the campaign message to underscore the candidate’s credibility in managing economic policy. According to the article, the candidate’s previous work in the ministry is seen as evidence that they have the technical expertise required to hit the ambitious growth target.

The 7 % Growth Target

A 7 % growth rate, the article notes, aligns with the government’s “Vision 2025” objective—an overarching plan set by former President John Magufuli and now being carried forward under the current administration. The candidate stresses that achieving this growth will require a multi‑pronged approach that touches every sector of the economy.

1. Agricultural Modernisation: Tanzania’s economy is still heavily reliant on agriculture, which accounts for roughly 30 % of GDP. The candidate calls for an investment programme that introduces modern irrigation techniques, mechanised farming equipment, and access to high‑yield seed varieties. This, they argue, will increase output and reduce the country’s dependence on food imports.

2. Infrastructure Development: A key pillar of the growth strategy is the expansion of road, rail, and port infrastructure. The candidate cites the ongoing “East African Community Highway” project and proposes to accelerate the construction of the Dar es Salaam–Mombasa railway line, arguing that improved connectivity will attract foreign investment.

3. Energy Expansion: Tanzania has abundant hydroelectric, solar, and geothermal resources that remain largely untapped. The campaign message highlights a plan to invest in renewable energy projects that will not only power new industrial zones but also provide electricity to rural households, reducing the electricity deficit that hampers productivity.

4. Tourism and Services: The candidate underscores the need to diversify the economy by investing in the tourism sector—particularly wildlife safaris, beach resorts, and cultural heritage sites. The vision includes upgrading the infrastructure around popular sites such as Serengeti National Park and Zanzibar’s historic Stone Town, as well as improving marketing efforts aimed at attracting international visitors.

5. Technology and Innovation: Recognising the global shift toward a digital economy, the candidate pledges to enhance the country’s ICT infrastructure, including the rollout of broadband internet across the nation and the creation of innovation hubs that nurture local tech start‑ups.

The candidate frames the 7 % growth as a “no‑less‑or‑more” ambition. They note that, while ambitious, the target is attainable if the country can maintain fiscal discipline, attract foreign direct investment, and sustain the momentum built in the last decade under CCM’s leadership.

A Call for Unity

Beyond policy, the article features a stirring appeal for political cohesion. The candidate urges all CCM supporters—ranging from rural farmers to urban professionals—to unite behind the party’s vision. “Our future depends on a single voice that speaks for all Tanzanians,” the candidate says. “We cannot let divisions weaken the great potential of this country.”

This call is strategic. Tanzania’s political landscape has become increasingly competitive in recent years, with opposition parties such as the Civic United Front (CUF) and the National Alliance for Freedom (NAF) gaining traction in certain regions. The candidate’s plea is meant to pre‑empt fragmentation within the party’s base and to galvanise a broad coalition that could tip the scales in the upcoming electoral contest.

The Opposition’s Position

The article also provides a brief snapshot of the opposition’s stance. While it does not elaborate on the specific policies of rival parties, it highlights that the opposition is critical of the 7 % growth pledge, arguing that it might be too optimistic and that the country’s structural challenges—such as high unemployment, low foreign investment inflows, and the lingering effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic—could undermine such a target.

The candidate’s press release counteracts these criticisms by citing data from the Bank of Tanzania and the World Bank that suggest a resilient economic core capable of supporting a higher growth trajectory if the correct policy mix is applied.

Linking to Additional Information

The article on The Citizen contains several hyperlinks to supplementary content that provide deeper insight into the candidate’s economic plans:

• A link to a CCM press release detailing the “Vision 2025” roadmap, which outlines specific fiscal and monetary policies aimed at promoting sustainable growth.
• A reference to a World Bank report on Tanzania’s investment climate, which the candidate uses to justify the focus on infrastructure and energy.
• A citation of a recent interview in the Tanzania Daily News where the candidate discusses the role of foreign direct investment in achieving the 7 % growth target.

These links, though not fully quoted in the article, give readers additional sources to verify the candidate’s commitments and to understand the broader economic context in which the pledge is being made.

What the Pledge Means for Tanzanian Voters

For voters, the 7 % growth promise is a tangible benchmark that can be measured over the next few years. The candidate’s emphasis on sectors that directly affect everyday life—like agriculture, infrastructure, and energy—offers voters clear areas where they can expect visible change. Moreover, the call for unity resonates with a populace that has experienced the consequences of political fragmentation, such as uneven development and bureaucratic delays.

However, skepticism remains. Critics argue that past promises of high growth rates have often been unmet, and that the political elite may use such rhetoric as a tool to consolidate power rather than to deliver substantive change. Voters will likely scrutinise the candidate’s past performance and the feasibility of the proposed policies in a rapidly changing global economy.

Conclusion

In summary, the CCM candidate’s message—anchored by a 7 % GDP growth pledge and a call for internal party solidarity—offers a clear, if ambitious, roadmap for Tanzania’s future. By focusing on agricultural modernisation, infrastructure expansion, renewable energy, tourism, and digital innovation, the candidate seeks to position CCM as the steward of Tanzania’s next phase of development. The accompanying appeals for unity and the strategic use of data and external sources add a veneer of credibility to the campaign’s narrative.

Whether this strategy will translate into electoral success remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the candidate’s vision has been articulated in a way that is both aspirational and anchored in specific policy proposals. For Tanzanians watching the 2025 presidential race, the 7 % growth pledge will serve as a key barometer against which the performance of the ruling party will be measured.