The Beans Pot Must Be Put Back on the Fire

 

Adeladius Makwega — MBAGALA

 

The resignation of Dr. Emmanuel Nchimbi, Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania, early on August 25, 2026, has been received with considerable excitement by Mwanakwetu for several reasons.

 

Mwanakwetu's excitement over the resignation of this leader is not simply about his decision to step down. Far from it. What is more significant is the broader meaning this event carries for those looking at a new Tanzania following the events of late 2025.

 

Indeed, the main concern of those watching this development is not simply curiosity about who will fill the vacant position. That is not the central issue. The real question is this:

 

Does CCM have the courage to unravel this mystery?

 

Why have so many senior national leaders been resigning within a period of less than five years?

 

Former Speaker of Parliament Job Ndugai left his position. Tulia Ackson was also no longer Speaker. Although the circumstances were different, why was she not persuaded to seek another term?

 

Kassim Majaliwa appeared to have the strength and enthusiasm to continue in politics. Why did he step aside?

 

Dr. Philip Mpango, although not a direct example in this particular argument, left after only one term. Why?

 

And now, once again, we have the Vice President, Dr. Emmanuel Nchimbi—a relatively young leader compared with many senior figures, and a politician with experience working alongside various leaders who have governed this country. Why has he also packed his bags so early? Why has he stepped aside?

 

Who, then, is the problem?

 

More troubling still, some of these leaders who ended their political journeys prematurely come from the same side of the United Republic of Tanzania.

 

If Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) is not careful, it will be playing a children's game that cannot last. It may simply fill the vacant position, send a new name to Parliament, and eventually the country will have another Vice President.

 

Mwanakwetu believes Tanzania cannot be safe under such circumstances. Members of the Central Committee must understand that they too cannot remain safe for even a single day if they fail to seriously examine this direction.

 

CCM must read the signs early and speak with one voice: where we are heading is becoming increasingly dangerous.

 

Relations with genuine opposition parties, particularly CHADEMA, remain tense. At the same time, even within our own ranks, there are CCM members facing court cases with political dimensions, while former CCM National Secretary for Ideology, Propaganda and Training, Comrade Polepole, remains out of public view and his whereabouts are unknown.

 

The security and stability of CCM, particularly for members of its Central Committee, requires a careful and honest answer. They must tell Tanzanians where the problem lies, who the problem is, who is responsible, and what the party has decided to do about it.

 

 

“Let us make a decision—A, B, C and D. Come on, let us put the beans pot back on the fire!”

 

Filling the position of Vice President simply according to the wishes of a single Secretary would be a decision made by fishermen; it would be a weak decision for a political party such as CCM, which prides itself on being the Revolutionary Party. It would be a timid and cowardly decision.

 

Dear Reader, Let Me Tell You Something

The problem in this part of Tanzania, which is part of former Tanganyika, is one thing:

 

“When a leader occupies a position of power, that leader often comes from a particular part of the country with its own ethnic communities, traditions and languages, where Kiswahili may be a second language.”

 

For example, Dr. Philip Mpango comes from Kigoma; Dr. Tulia Ackson comes from Mbeya; Job Ndugai comes from Dodoma; and Kassim Majaliwa comes from the South. Each has a community, language, traditions and people who consider themselves part of his or her own community, while viewing others as outsiders.

 

Even those who have disappeared from public life, such as Humphrey Polepole and others, have communities that view them in much the same way.

 

You will hear statements such as:

 

“This person is one of us. Forget that he is a leader; to us he is our brother, our sister, our father, our uncle, our grandfather, and so on. This is our blood relative.”

 

Whatever happens to such a person—whether they have committed a wrongdoing or have been wronged—it can divide us.

 

That is why, when you look at some of the former Prime Ministers, such as Pinda, Majaliwa and Sumaye, when they sought re-election to Parliament after serving as Prime Ministers, even opposition parties sometimes did not field candidates against them.

 

“Our brother is running; let us allow him to pass safely.”

Where there was an opponent, elders would sometimes be approached to ensure that “our brother” passed safely.

 

On the other hand, even people such as Tundu Lissu, who come from a particular part of former Tanganyika with its own languages, traditions and cultural dances, regardless of other divisions such as religion and denominations, can be viewed by some people as their own relatives.

 

“Why is our brother being taken there?”

 

This is something Tanzania must examine much more seriously.

You may ask why a nation cannot be built on the principle of “this person is one of us” whenever leadership positions are at stake. But this is precisely where CCM itself has benefited from these very sentiments—sentiments that today could ultimately destroy the party.

 

If CCM fails to provide the right answer, the people will punish it very soon.

 

Mwanakwetu believes that the punishment for CCM has already begun.

The right decision for CCM is to reflect quickly and reach a decision to put a new pot on the fire.

 

What do you do when you are cooking beans and they all burn, turning into charcoal and soot?

 

You start again. You put another pot of fresh beans on the fire.

 

Mwanakwetu, are you there?

Remember:

 

“The Beans Pot Must Be Put Back on the Fire.”

I wish you a good day.

makwadeladius@gmail.com
0717649257