Vice President Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi’s planned exit from Tanzania’s top leadership has taken a sudden turn after the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) expelled him from the party, barely a day after he announced that he would resign from office and leave public life.
The decision was made during an emergency meeting of CCM’s Central Committee and National Executive Committee (NEC) held late at night in Dar es Salaam and chaired by President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
CCM Secretary-General Dr Asha-Rose Migiro announced Nchimbi’s removal at around 10:30pm on Wednesday, saying the party had established that he had gone against its Constitution and internal regulations.
“After considering all available information, it was established that the Constitution of Chama Cha Mapinduzi and its regulations had been violated... Consequently, effective immediately, Nchimbi has been expelled from the party and is no longer a member,” Migiro said.
The announcement came less than 24 hours after Nchimbi told the public that he intended to relinquish the Vice Presidency and withdraw from politics altogether.
Nchimbi, who was appointed to the position in November 2025 as President Samia’s running mate, said his decision followed his assessment that the President was seeking to reorganise parts of her administration.
He had planned to make his departure official on September 4, 2026. Instead, CCM acted before the date, ending his membership and bringing his tenure in the ruling party to an abrupt conclusion.
The developments have exposed divisions that had been emerging within CCM. While the party has based its decision on alleged breaches of discipline and ethics, political insiders have linked the dispute to differences over government policy, political reforms and the early struggle for influence ahead of the 2030 presidential succession.
Nchimbi had built a long political career within CCM and previously served as the party’s Secretary-General. As Vice President, he had also increasingly been seen as a moderate figure who spoke in favour of political tolerance and justice.
That position, however, drew criticism from some members of the ruling party who accused him of failing to defend the administration firmly enough as it came under increased scrutiny after the elections and amid a number of public political disagreements.
His expulsion means Nchimbi will leave government without the political backing of CCM, effectively closing his chapter within the party even before the resignation date he had announced.
At the same time, CCM has moved quickly to fill the position he is leaving behind.
The party has endorsed Energy Minister Deogratius Ndejembi as its candidate for Vice President.
Ndejembi, who represents Chamwino in Parliament, is among the younger leaders within CCM and has previously held positions as a District Commissioner and Deputy Minister in the President’s Office.
His selection puts a minister responsible for the energy sector in line to occupy one of Tanzania’s most senior government positions.
Ndejembi’s nomination will now have to go through the constitutional process before he can take office.
When the Vice Presidency falls vacant, Tanzania’s constitutional rules require the President to submit a nominee to the National Assembly for approval.
Parliament is expected to consider Ndejembi’s nomination and vote on it before the end of the current parliamentary sitting.
If lawmakers approve him, Ndejembi will become Vice President, setting the stage for a rapid change in Tanzania’s executive leadership only nine months after Nchimbi assumed the role.