# List of political parties in Tanzania

This article lists political parties in Tanzania. The country operates under a dominant multi-party system with the ruling party being in power since the nation attained its independence in 1961. It first governed as the Tanganyika African National Union, before merging with the Afro-Shirazi Party to form the Chama Cha Mapinduzi.

## Brief history and overview

Tanzania attained its independence as Tanganyika Territory from the United Kingdom in 1961 with the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) forming its first government. Following the Zanzibar Revolution in 1964, it merged with the People's Republic of Zanzibar and Pemba to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar (present day Tanzania). It thereafter became a one-party state with TANU and the Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP) being the only parties operating on the mainland and the Zanzibar Archipelago respectively.
On 5 February 1977, TANU merged with its Zanzibari counterpart, the ASP to form the Chama Cha Mapinduzi which served as the sole legal party until 1992 when multi-party system was re-introduced. The country also adopted the Structural Adjustment Program upon recommendation of the Bretton Woods Institutions.
Since the re-introduction of the multi-party system, the CCM has continued to retain its popularity and the voter's confidence, having won all general elections since 1995. Jakaya Kikwete, the party's presidential candidate in 2005 won the election by a landslide victory receiving more than 80% of the popular vote.

## List

| Party | Acronym | Founded | Bunge | ZHoR |
| Party of the Revolution Swahili: Chama cha Mapinduzi | CCM | 1977 | 365 / 384 | 84 / 88 |
| Party for Democracy and Progress Swahili: Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo | CHADEMA | 1992 | 20 / 384 | 0 / 88 |
| Civic United Front Swahili: Chama cha Wananchi | CUF | 1992 | 3 / 384 | 0 / 88 |
| Alliance for Change and Transparency Swahili: Umoja wa Mabadiliko na Uwazi | ACT | 2014 | 4 / 384 | 0 / 88 |
| Tanzania Democratic Alliance | TADEA | 1990 | 0 / 384 | 1 / 88 |
| Alliance for Democratic Change Swahili: Umoja wa Mabadiliko ya Demokrasia | ADC | 2012 | 0 / 384 | 1 / 88 |
| Alliance for Tanzania Farmers Party Swahili: Chama cha Wakulima | AFP | 2009 | 0 / 384 | 1 / 88 |
| Union for Multiparty Democracy | UMD | 1993 | 0 / 384 | 0 / 88 |
| National Convention for Construction and Reform – Mageuzi Swahili: Chama cha Mageuzi na Ujenzi wa Taifa | NCCR-M | 1992 | 0 / 384 | 0 / 88 |
| United People's Democratic Party | UPDP | 1993 | 0 / 384 | 0 / 88 |
| National Reconstruction Alliance | NRA | 1993 | 0 / 384 | 0 / 88 |
| Democratic Party Swahili: Chama cha Kidemokrasia | DP | 2002 | 0 / 384 | 0 / 88 |
| United Democratic Party | UDP | 1994 | 0 / 384 | 0 / 88 |
| Justice and Development Party Swahili: Chama cha Haki na Ustawi | CHAUSTA | 1998 | 0 / 384 | 0 / 88 |
| Progressive Party of Tanzania – Maendeleo | PPT-Maendeleo | 2003 | 0 / 384 | 0 / 88 |
| People's Voice Swahili: Sauti ya Umma | SAU | 2005 | 0 / 384 | 0 / 88 |
| Social Party Swahili: Chama cha Kijamii | CCK | 2012 | 0 / 384 | 0 / 88 |
| People's Liberation Party Swahili: Chama cha Ukombozi wa Umma | CHAUMMA | 2013 | 0 / 384 | 0 / 88 |

## Defunct parties

* Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP)
* Attentive Democracy Party (Demokrasia Makini, MAKINI)
* Tanganyika African National Union (TANU)
* Tanzania Labour Party (Chama cha wafanyakazi Tanzania, TLP)
* Traditional Dhow
* National League for Democracy (NLD)
* Zanzibar and Pemba People's Party (ZPPP)
* Zanzibar Nationalist Party (ZNP)