Tanzania, Feb. 4 -- Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) is celebrating 47 years since it was founded in 1977 with a theme focused on the current chairperson's agenda and urging its members to participate in the coming local elections. The party celebrating this year is facing challenges of navigating the political terrain at a time of increased agitation for political changes. The past has some insights regarding how previous CCM chairpersons responded to moments of political changes.

There have been six CCM chairpersons so far, and some lived through more challenging political times than others.

The first chairperson in Mwalimu Julius Nyerere led the party for thirteen years, the longest time. Throughout that time, the country was a single-party...