IN SHORT: Inconsistencies in the document itself, as well as official statements from both the CCM party and the incorrectly linked tour company, confirm that the letter is fake.
A document posted on Facebook claims that Tanzania’s ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), is seeking donations to fund its campaign activities ahead of a general election in October 2025.
Chama Cha Mapinduzi is Kiswahili for “Party of the Revolution”. The party has been in power since its formation in 1977 and has produced all of Tanzania’s presidents, including the incumbent, Samia Suluhu.
The letter, apparently signed by Amos Gabriel Makalla, the party’s national secretary for ideology, publicity and training, claims to detail the outcome of a meeting held by the party’s central committee on 15 April 2025. The committee is chaired by Suluhu.
According to the document, the committee agreed to raise TSh222 million (about US$82,000) to fund campaign activities. This includes TSh90 million for campaign materials, TSh62 million for 20,000 litres of fuel and TSh70 million for various services.
Supporters are asked to send their contributions to a designated account at CRDB, a Tanzanian commercial bank.
The document also states that supporters must present their payment receipts at a special meeting with the president at the State House in Dodoma, which is expected to be held before June 2025.
The party chairperson is Suluhu, who became Tanzania’s first female president in 2021 following the death of president John Magufuli.
The letter suggests that the central committee of the CCM, the party’s highest decision-making body, has decided to encourage members, supporters and stakeholders to donate to fund the party’s campaign activities.
The document has also been posted on X and on Instagram.
But is Tanzania’s ruling party really asking citizens to donate to their upcoming election campaign? We checked.
Ignore fake letter
A comparison of the letter with official CCM documents from the party’s verified Instagram account revealed several inconsistencies.
Notably, whereas official documents typically display “[email protected]”, the letter uses the email address “[email protected]”.
On 19 May 2025, CCM rejected the circulating letter via its verified Instagram account, calling it “FAKE”.
“TAARIFA HII IPUUZWE!” the party wrote. This translates as: “Please disregard this information!”
Adding to the confusion, the letter bears the name of Serengeti Smile, a Tanzanian tour company. The firm quickly distanced itself from the document, posting a public disclaimer in Kiswahili in which it said the letter was fake.
“Our company is not involved in any politics but provides services to tourists only.”
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