Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) National Secretary for Ideology, Publicity and Training, Kenan Kihongosi, has declared that politics is fundamentally about numbers, insisting that CCM continues to dominate Tanzania’s political landscape because of its massive membership base across the country.
Kihongosi made the remarks today, April 16, 2026, while addressing residents and party members at Branch No. 12 of Bugulula Ward in Geita Rural District, Geita Region. His visit forms part of an ongoing political tour across the Lake Zone regions aimed at strengthening party structures, listening to citizens, and evaluating grassroots development progress.
Speaking before a large gathering of wananchi and CCM members, Kihongosi said the strength of any political party lies in the number of committed supporters it has on the ground. According to him, CCM’s consistent victories in elections are not accidental, but the result of strong organization, widespread membership, and a deep connection with ordinary citizens.
He used Bugulula as an example, explaining that one local party branch can have an estimated 200 members. When multiplied by the total number of branches in the district, the figures become significant enough to demonstrate why CCM remains electorally powerful.
“When you look at the people gathered here, they are estimated to be around two hundred in just one branch. If you multiply that by all the branches in this district, you get a very large number,” Kihongosi said.
“Then someone asks how CCM wins elections. Tell them we win because we have these people. These are our foundation. These are the numbers that matter in politics.”
Politics Requires Structure and Support
Kihongosi emphasized that politics is not based on slogans, noise, or confrontation, but on organization and measurable support from citizens. He said many opposition parties fail because they do not have enough people on the ground or functioning grassroots structures.
“Politics is mathematics,” he said. “Other parties cannot win if they do not have people. How can someone win without numbers? It is impossible. We move with numbers. We move with calculations.”
His statement was met with applause from party supporters who filled the meeting area in Bugulula. Many attendees described CCM as the only party with visible structures in every village, ward, district, and region of Tanzania.
Observers say Kihongosi’s remarks reflect CCM’s long-standing political strategy of maintaining strong grassroots networks while focusing on local development issues that directly affect communities.
CCM’s Grassroots Machinery
The ruling party has often credited its village-level and branch-level organization for helping it stay close to wananchi. Through thousands of branches and cells nationwide, CCM has built one of the largest political mobilization systems in East Africa.
In Geita Rural District alone, Kihongosi said there are 3,614 branches, each representing a network of members and supporters. If each branch has a sizable number of people, the overall support base becomes enormous.
Political analysts note that this type of structure gives CCM an advantage during elections because it can communicate quickly, mobilize voters efficiently, and gather local concerns from every corner of the country.
Kihongosi urged members to continue strengthening these structures and recruiting more young people and women into the party.
“The future of the party depends on organization and discipline,” he told supporters. “If every branch remains active, CCM will continue to grow stronger.”
Focus on Development, Not Conflict
Beyond election numbers, Kihongosi said CCM’s real strength comes from its role in supervising government performance and ensuring public projects are implemented.
He explained that as the ruling party, CCM leaders inspect development projects, monitor progress, and report challenges to higher authorities. According to him, wananchi are able to see real results when roads are built, schools are improved, electricity is extended, and hospitals are upgraded.
“That is the power of CCM as a party,” he said. “We oversee government work to make sure projects are implemented. We inspect, we report to senior leaders, and if things are good, people can see it. If things are bad, citizens also know.”
Residents who attended the gathering mentioned several priorities for their area, including better roads, access to clean water, electricity expansion, support for farmers, and improved health services.
Many said they appreciated the visit because it gave them a chance to raise local concerns directly with national leadership.
Criticism of Opposition Politics
Kihongosi also criticized some opposition parties, accusing them of encouraging confrontation, chaos, and unnecessary political tension rather than offering practical solutions.
He said citizens in Bugulula and across Tanzania are more interested in development than political conflict.
“The people of Bugulula want progress,” he said. “They need roads, electricity, schools, hospitals, and agricultural inputs. Those are the important things.”
According to him, citizens are tired of leaders who only speak about protests and conflict without presenting workable plans for economic growth and public services.
He questioned the usefulness of encouraging wananchi to fight political battles that do not improve their daily lives.
“Someone comes and says, ‘Commander, fight, turn around, resist.’ Fight who?” Kihongosi asked. “Do not be deceived. There is no benefit in violence.”
Call for Economic Action Instead of Street Demonstrations
In one of the most memorable parts of his speech, Kihongosi said if people must march, they should march in search of income, jobs, and prosperity rather than destructive protests.
“I say let people demonstrate in search of money,” he said jokingly, drawing laughter from the crowd. “Those are the best demonstrations. If you return home with money, food, or harvests, your family benefits.”
The statement resonated strongly with farmers, traders, and youth who attended the meeting. Many said economic opportunity remains the biggest issue facing ordinary Tanzanians.
Geita Region is one of Tanzania’s economically active areas, known for mining, agriculture, livestock, and trade. However, many communities still seek better infrastructure and market access to improve household incomes.
CCM’s Strategy Ahead of Future Elections
Kihongosi’s visit comes at a time when political parties across Tanzania are beginning to intensify grassroots engagement ahead of future national political contests.
CCM leaders have recently increased visits to regions and districts, emphasizing unity, membership expansion, and delivery of government services.
Political commentators say the party is seeking to reinforce its support base by combining two key messages:
CCM has unmatched nationwide numbers and organization.
CCM remains focused on practical development.
Kihongosi’s speech in Bugulula reflected both themes clearly.
Reaction from Residents
Several residents who attended the event said they were encouraged by the message of development and accountability.
One farmer from Bugulula said roads and agricultural support remain the most urgent needs in the area.
“We want fertilizers, good roads, and markets,” he said. “If leaders help us in these areas, life improves.”
A youth attendee said politics should help create employment opportunities rather than division.
“We need jobs and capital for business,” he said. “Arguments alone cannot help young people.”
Women at the gathering also highlighted the need for better health facilities and water services, saying these issues affect families directly.
Importance of Geita in National Politics
Geita Region remains strategically important in Tanzania due to its population size, economic contribution, and active political participation. Winning support in the Lake Zone has historically been a priority for all major political parties.
By choosing to tour Geita and other Lake Zone regions, CCM appears focused on consolidating support in one of the country’s politically significant zones.
Kihongosi praised local party leaders for maintaining active branches and mobilizing members effectively.
He encouraged continued unity within party ranks and urged leaders at all levels to remain close to wananchi.
Message to Party Members
Before concluding his speech, Kihongosi reminded members that party success depends not only on numbers but also discipline, service, and trust.
He urged branch leaders to listen carefully to citizen complaints, resolve conflicts peacefully, and ensure every member feels valued.
“A party grows when people believe in it,” he said. “Protect unity, work hard, and stay close to the people.”
Conclusion
Kenan Kihongosi’s Bugulula address delivered a clear political message: in Tanzania, numbers matter, organization matters, and development matters even more.
By framing politics as mathematics, he defended CCM’s continued dominance as the result of its widespread grassroots support. By stressing roads, schools, electricity, hospitals, and farming inputs, he also reminded citizens that daily development remains central to political legitimacy.
Whether one agrees with his views or not, the speech highlighted a reality of modern Tanzanian politics electoral success is built not only through speeches, but through people, structures, and the ability to respond to citizens’ needs.
As CCM continues its regional tours, Bugulula has become the latest stop where the party reaffirmed confidence in its formula for victory: numbers, organization, and development.
Abdul Ramadhani Tanzania
