January Makamba, Bumbuli Member of Parliament

January Makamba, the Member of Parliament for Bumbuli, was recently barred from contesting in the Chama Cha Mapinduzi parliamentary primaries ahead of the 2025 general election. This means he will not be able to defend his seat in the upcoming polls. Despite this, he remains an influential member of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

Makamba’s exclusion from the primaries, decided by CCM’s Central Committee under President Samia Suluhu, has fuelled speculation about internal party politics and succession dynamics ahead of the 2030 presidential race. His removal follows his dismissal from the cabinet in July 2024, which was widely viewed as a political sidelining.

Throughout his career, Makamba has held several key cabinet positions, including Minister of Energy and Minister of Foreign Affairs. In 2015, at the age of 41, he made a strong bid for the CCM presidential nomination, finishing among the final five candidates and establishing himself as a serious contender for future presidential contests.

Born in Singida Region, Makamba holds degrees in Peace and Conflict Studies and Conflict Resolution from U.S. universities. Early in his career, he worked in refugee camps and served as a foreign service officer. He was also a close aide to former President Jakaya Kikwete before entering Parliament. Known for his resilience, Makamba has endured political challenges stemming from internal rivalries within the CCM.

Despite recent setbacks, Makamba has reaffirmed his loyalty to CCM and committed to supporting the party in the 2025 general election, dismissing speculation that his primary loss is connected to succession battles, while emphasising the party’s current focus on President Samia Suluhu’s re-election.