Chama Cha Mapinduzi
The Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM; in English) is the dominant ruling party in Tanzania and the second longest-ruling party in Africa, only after the True Whig Party of Liberia. It was formed in 1977, following the merger of the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) and the Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP), which were the sole operating parties in mainland Tanzania and the semi-autonomous islands of Zanzibar respectively. TANU and its successor CCM have ruled Tanzania uninterruptedly since independence. The party has been described as authoritarian. Since the creation of a multi-party system, CCM has won  the past six general elections in 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020. Jakaya Kikwete, its presidential candidate in 2005, won by a landslide, receiving more than 80% of the popular vote. In the 2010 election, it won 186 of the 239 constituencies, continuing to hold an outright majority in the National Assembly. History. The party was created on February 5, 1977, under the leadership of Julius Nyerere, through the merger of the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU), the ruling party in Tanganyika, and the Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP), the ruling party in Zanzibar. TANU/CCM has dominated the politics  of Tanzania since the independence of Tanganyika in 1961. Due to the merger with the ASP, from 1977 it has also been the ruling party in Zanzibar, though there its grip on power has been more contested by the Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA). From its formation until 1992, it was the only legally permitted party in the country. Every five years, its national chairman was automatically elected to a five-year term as president; he was confirmed in office via a referendum. At the same time, voters were presented with two CCM candidates for the National Assembly or  Bunge. This changed on July 1, 1992, when amendments to the Constitution and a number of laws permitting and regulating the formation and operations of more than one political party were enacted by the National Assembly. Ideology. Originally a champion of African socialism, upholder of the system of collectivized agriculture known as "Ujamaa" and firmly oriented to the left, today the CCM espouses a more social-democratic approach. CCM hopes to continue to modernize in order to ensure: Similarly, the CCM's major foreign policy focus is economic diplomacy within the international system, and peaceful coexistence with neighbors. Electoral performance . The CCM has a leading role in society. The party has won all presidential elections at both the national level and in Zanzibar at the autonomous level under the multi-party system: 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015. It also dominates the legislature. In the elections for Zanzibar's presidency and House of Representatives, held on 30 October 2005, incumbent president and CCM candidate Amani Abeid Karume won with 53.18% of the vote, while the party won 30 seats out of 50. In the national elections for Tanzania's presidency and National Assembly, held on 14 December 2005, Foreign Minister  and CCM candidate Jakaya Kikwete won with 80.28% of the vote. Out of the 232 seats filled through direct election, the CCM won 206. On 31 October 2010, Jakaya Kikwete was reelected president with 62.8% of the vote, while CCM obtained 186 out of the 239 directly elected seats. On 30 October 2015 John Magufuli of CCM won the election with 58.46% of the vote. CCM was admitted into the Socialist International as a full member at the SI's spring congress on 4–5 February 2013. Leadership. Current leaders. Samia Suluhu Hassan is the current Chairperson of the Chama Cha  Mapinduzi following the death of John Pombe Magufuli, the former Chairman and President of United Republic of Tanzania.