Tanzania’s ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) has expelled Vice President Emmanuel John Nchimbi from the party, a day after he announced his resignation from office and retirement from active politics and public service. The party has also endorsed Energy Minister Deogratius Ndejembi as its nominee for Vice President, setting in motion the process to replace Nchimbi.

CCM announced the decisions on Wednesday, August 26, after emergency meetings of its Central Committee and National Executive Committee in Dar es Salaam. The meetings were chaired by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who also serves as CCM chairperson. CCM Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro said the party had considered disciplinary and ethical matters involving Nchimbi and concluded that provisions of the party’s constitution and regulations had been violated. She said the National Executive Committee subsequently resolved unanimously to expel Nchimbi, making the decision effective immediately. The party did not, however, publicly provide detailed information on the specific conduct or incidents that led to his expulsion.

The expulsion followed Nchimbi’s announcement on Tuesday, August 25, that he was stepping down as Vice President. According to an official notice, Nchimbi’s resignation will take effect on September 4, 2026. President Hassan accepted the resignation. Nchimbi said he had decided to leave office after becoming convinced that Hassan wanted a change in the Vice Presidency. He referred to a commitment he had made before taking office to step aside if the President eventually wanted another person to serve as her deputy. He also announced his retirement from active politics and public service.

Nchimbi had served as Vice President for less than a year. He was sworn into office on November 3, 2025, after serving as Hassan’s running mate in the October 2025 general election. Before becoming Vice President, he served as CCM Secretary-General and held several senior government positions. Following Nchimbi’s resignation, CCM moved quickly to identify his proposed successor. The party endorsed Deogratius Ndejembi, the Energy Minister and Member of Parliament for Chamwino, as its nominee for Vice President. The decision was unanimously approved by CCM’s National Executive Committee, according to the party’s announcement.

Ndejembi’s nomination does not by itself make him Vice President. The appointment remains subject to the constitutional procedures governing the replacement of a Vice President, including parliamentary approval. The transition therefore remains formally incomplete until those procedures are concluded.

The close timing of Nchimbi’s resignation and CCM expulsion has drawn attention, particularly because the party acted within a day of his announcement. Nchimbi presented his resignation as a decision to honour his earlier commitment to President Hassan. CCM, meanwhile, gave a separate institutional explanation, citing violations of party rules, discipline and ethical requirements. There has been speculation about disagreements within the government and ruling party. Nchimbi had also recently spoken publicly in favour of constitutional reform, attracting attention within Tanzania’s political debate. However, there is no official confirmation that those remarks were the direct reason for his resignation or expulsion. Reuters reported that the government did not provide a reason for his resignation when it was initially announced.

For now, the established facts are that Nchimbi resigned, announced his retirement from politics and public service, was subsequently expelled from CCM, and was followed by the party’s endorsement of Ndejembi as its preferred candidate for the Vice Presidency. The next step is the completion of the constitutional process required to formally appoint Nchimbi’s successor.