By Patrice Katuma
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa has stunned the nation by announcing his immediate withdrawal from active politics, a decision he attributes to divine guidance. The abrupt move comes just a week after he had publicly committed to defending his Ruangwa parliamentary seat for a fourth term in the upcoming 2025 General Election, marking an unexpected reversal.
Mr. Majaliwa, 64, who has served as Prime Minister since 2015, working closely with President Samia Suluhu Hassan, made the announcement on Wednesday, June 2. He stated his intention not to seek re-election as the Member of Parliament for Ruangwa, a constituency he has represented since 2010.
“It is time to allow other politicians to build and unite on the development foundation we have already established,” Majaliwa said, without providing further specific reasons for his decision beyond the involvement of God, which he cited as being “in good faith.”
His sudden departure has ignited widespread speculation of potential political rifts within the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, particularly given his earlier affirmation to contest the seat. Despite the unanswered questions surrounding his exit, Mr. Majaliwa affirmed his continued commitment to supporting President Suluhu’s presidential bid in the upcoming elections, emphasizing his ongoing role as a senior CCM official.
Majaliwa’s announcement follows by mere months a similar surprise from Vice President Philip Mpango, who in May declared his own retirement from public service. Mpango cited a desire to focus on agriculture, a family tradition, and a commitment to empowering the nation’s youth as reasons for his decision.
These significant political shifts occur as the CCM and Tanzanian citizens prepare for the October 2025 General Election, setting the stage for a period of transition in the country’s political landscape.
In unrelated but recent political developments, opposition leader Godbless Jonathan Lema of the Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) party was reportedly barred from leaving the country on June 6. Lema’s passport was confiscated by immigration officers as he attempted to enter Kenya, and he was advised to report to the Immigration Headquarters in Dodoma for details regarding the ban.
