2015 Chama Cha Mapinduzi presidential primaries

The Chama Cha Mapinduzi presidential primaries, 2015 took place in July 2015 to determine CCM's nominee for the Presidency of Tanzania for the 2015 election. The Chama Cha Mapinduzi is the country's dominant ruling party, and the longest reigning ruling party in Africa.
Incumbent president and 2010 nominee Jakaya Kikwete is ineligible for re-election due to term limits. He is looking forward to his retirement, and has described the presidency as being both "stressful and thankless". Kikwete, who also serves as the party's National Chairman, said that he was not backing anyone as his preferred and chosen successor.
More than forty candidates collected the nomination forms. On 12 July, Minister of Works John Magufuli was selected as the party's presidential nominee, and was most likely to win. He won the presidential election by 58.46%.

Background

Dodoma Six

In February 2014, the CCM's Central Committee summoned and interrogated six prospective candidates at the party's headquarters in Dodoma; and banned them from engaging in premature campaigns for a period of twelve months. They were former Prime Ministers Frederick Sumaye and Edward Lowassa, Foreign Minister Bernard Membe, Minister Stephen Wasira, Deputy Minister January Makamba and former Minister William Ngeleja. The ban was further extended in March 2015, before being lifted on 22 May 2015.

Candidates

The following candidates have been listed according to the dates that they expressed interest or formally announced their candidacy.
; Key:

Candidate	Background	Notes
	Born 1974, Hometown: Lushoto, Tanga Region Alma mater: St. John's University, George Mason University Member of Parliament for Bumbuli Deputy Minister of Communication, Science and Technology	Son of Yusuf Makamba, a CCM stalwart and its former SG. Denied having any intention for the presidency in March 2012. Expressed interest on 2 July 2014. Declared candidacy on 7 June 2015 Links: , , ,
	Born 1942, Urambo, Tabora Region Alma mater: University of Dar es Salaam, IMEDE Member of Parliament for Urambo East Minister of Transport	Claims that he refused accepting a bribe of $70,000 from a Canadian aircraft manufacturer. Expressed interest on 2 September 2014 Declared on 3 June 2015
	Born 1975, Tabora Region Alma mater: Muhimbili University, Karolinska Institutet, BTH Member of Parliament for Nzega	Declared candidacy on 7 September 2014 Campaign slogan: The New Tanzania We Want Links: ,
	Born 1945, Bunda, Mara Region Alma mater: American University,, Member of Parliament for Bunda Minister of Agriculture	Expressed interest in September 2014 Declared candidacy on 31 May 2015 Links: ,
	Born 1948, Rukwa Region Alma mater: University of Dar es Salaam Member of Parliament for Katavi Prime Minister	Expressed interest on 21 October 2014 Declared candidacy on 12 June 2015 Links:
	Born 1970, Singida Region Alma mater: Waldorf College, Wartburg College, Buckingham Member of Parliament for Singida North Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism	Declared candidacy on 28 December 2014 Links: , ,
	Born 1953, Lindi Region Alma mater: University of Dar es Salaam, Johns Hopkins University Member of Parliament for Mtama Minister of Foreign Affairs	Expressed interest on 24 May 2015 Declared candidacy on 7 June 2015 Denied reports that President Kikwete was his half-brother. Endorsed by Seif Ali Iddi, Cleopa Msuya Links:
	Born 1953, Arusha Region Alma mater: University of Dar es Salaam, University of Bath Member of Parliament for Monduli Former Prime Minister	Declared candidacy on 30 May 2015 Campaign slogan: Safari ya Matumaini Endorsed by Kingunge Ngombale–Mwiru Links:
	Born 1975, Singida Region Alma mater: University of Dar es Salaam, Member of Parliament for Iramba West Deputy Minister of Finance	Declared candidacy on 31 May 2015 Links:
	Born ? Alma mater: ? Retired Diplomat	Declared candidacy on 1 June 2015
	Born 1975 Alma mater: Mzumbe University, University of Strathclyde Member of Parliament for Kisesa	Declared candidacy on 1 June 2015
	Born 1959, Mara Region Alma mater: Tanzania Military Academy, University of Aberdeen Retired Army Officer and MP for Arusha Urban Member of the East African Legislative Assembly	Son of Julius Nyerere, Tanzania's first President Declared candidacy on 1 June 2015
	Born 1949, Mbeya Region Alma mater: Aston University, University of Birmingham Member of Parliament for Rungwe East State Minister	Declared candidacy on 1 June 2015
	Born 1950, Arusha Region Alma mater: Egerton Agricultural College, Harvard Kennedy School Former Member of Parliament for Hanang Former Prime Minister	Declared candidacy on 2 June 2015
	Born 1954, Mara Region Alma mater: UDSM, University of Göttingen, TU Berlin Nominated Member of Parliament Minister of Energy and Minerals	Declared candidacy on 2 June 2015 Links:
	Born 1957 Alma mater: Sokoine, Reading, Mweka College Member of Parliament for Busega Minister of Livestock and Fisheries Development	Declared candidacy on 2 June 2015
	Born 1956, Zanzibar Alma mater: University of Delhi, University of Pune African Union Ambassador to the United States	Declared candidacy on 3 June 2015 Links:
	Born 1956 Alma mater: University of Dar es Salaam,, Member of Parliament for Chato Minister of Works	Declared candidacy on 3 June 2015
\|	Born 1945, Unguja, Zanzibar Alma mater: Howard University, UC Berkeley, Vice President	Declared candidacy on 3 June 2015
	Born 1967 Alma mater: University of Dar es Salaam, Member of Parliament for Sengerema Minister of Energy and Minerals	Declared candidacy on 4 June 2015 Links:
	Born: 1963 Alma mater: UDSM, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Director General of the National Institute for Medical Research	Daughter of former Prime Minister John Malecela. Declared candidacy on 7 June 2015 Links:
	Born 1945 Alma mater: University of Dar es Salaam, UToronto, Permanent Representative of Tanzania to the U.N. United Nations Special Envoy for Somalia	Stated that he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Declared candidacy on 9 June 2015
	Born 1943 Alma mater: UDSM,, Lakehead University, Simon Fraser Former Director General of Tanzania Intelligence and Security Service Member of Parliament for Makete	Declared candidacy on 10 June 2015
	Born 1956 Alma mater: Institute of Accountancy Arusha, Salford University Member of Parliament for Iringa Urban Former Deputy Minister of Finance	Declared candidacy on 11 June 2015
	Born 1956 Alma mater: UDSM, University of Konstanz Former Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Minister of Justice and Constitution Affairs	Declared candidacy on 15 June 2015 Links:
	Born 1945, Unguja, Zanzibar Alma mater: University of Dar es Salaam Retired Brigadier General and former Chief Justice President of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights Anglican Church pastor	Declared candidacy on 17 June 2015
	Born 1955 Alma mater: UDSM,, University of Hamburg, Member of Parliament for Kyela Minister of East African Cooperation	Denied having interest in January 2015 Declared candidacy on 19 June 2015

Other candidates

Potential candidates

Anna Tibaijuka, former Lands Minister. Her prospects were diminished when she was sacked by the President after receiving $1 million from a businessman. Tibaijuka denied any wrongdoing and said that she accepted the money as a donation for a school.
Anne Makinda, Speaker
Hussein Mwinyi, Defence Minister
Declined to run
Salim Ahmed Salim, former Prime Minister
Joseph Warioba, former Prime Minister
Nomination process

The nomination forms cost a non-refundable TSh 1 million. A total of 42 party members collected the forms from 3 June but only 38 managed to return them by the 2 July deadline. The four disqualified aspirants were Anthony Chalamila, Helena Elinewinga, Muzammil Kalokola and Peter Nyalile. Each candidate was required to solicit sponsorship from at least 450 party members from a minimum of 15 regions. Lowassa's campaign team claims to have gained sponsorship from more than 800,000 party members from all the regions.
The meetings will take place in Dodoma at the party's headquarters and at the newly inaugurated Dodoma Convention Centre. More than 10,000 delegates and their retinues were expected to arrive in the capital.