The party was created on February 5, 1977, under the leadership of Julius Nyerere, through the merger of the Tanganyika African National Union, the ruling party in Tanganyika, and the Afro-Shirazi Party, 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 Civic United Front. 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, the CCM espouses today a more social-democratic approach. CCM hopes to continue to modernize in order to ensure:
Increased productivity which would boost the country's revenue
Increased and expanded local and international markets for our products, and;
Improved and strengthened private sector serving as the engine of the national economy while the government sharpens its focus on provision of social services, infrastructure, security and governance of the state.
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 2015John 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
John Magufuli was elected Party Chairman on July 23, 2016 and took over for Jakaya Kikwete, who had been serving since November 2012.
