A RANGE of political analysts have applauded the ruling CCM decision to limit terms for Special Seats MPs, while wishing that it is anchored in the law on elective political positions generally.

Another noticeable reaction was that the change should have started in the coming general election instead of 2030, in the wake of a decision by the National Executive Committee (NEC) setting a two-term limit, for Special Seats in Parliament, effective from the 2030 elections.

Dr George Kahangwa, based at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), said the decision is positive but would have been more impactful as electoral law rather than a party-based initiative.

"CCM can implement this at the party level, but it would have been better as national policy so that Special Seats are regulated by national law," he said.

While the presidency has a constitutional term limit, party leadership positions such as the chairmanship are regulated internally. Opposition parties like Chadema have also started discussing term limits for party leadership, he stated, intimating that “the move by the ruling party sets a precedent that can be picked up by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to consider similar reforms.”

He sought for generalised term limits not just for the presidency but also the vice presidency, parliamentary seats and ward councillors’ seats, so that leadership becomes rotational “to prevent individuals from treating political positions as permanent careers."

Asserting that the CCM-NEC decision reflects efforts to increase women’s presence in Parliament and create more opportunities for other talented aspirants, he urged those serving in Special Seats for one or two terms to contest for a constituency seat as at that time “they should be mature enough.”

This will enable others to benefit from special seat opportunities, he said, suggesting that two term limits is ‘discipline’ that needs to apply for all elective positions.

"We’ve limited the presidency to two terms. The same discipline should apply to other political positions. No one should remain a legislator for life—it’s not a monarchy," he affirmed, elaborating that political positions should not be lifelong sources of income for a select few, as “rotating leadership encourages fresh talent and ideas.”

He was lukewarm on the 2030 timeline, asserting that it provides space for adjustment and thus absorb likely resistances, while Deus Kibamba, a media and civic organisations activist, acclaimed the decision, saying term limits would “create space for other qualified Tanzanians to lead.”

"CCM has restored this important principle for its members while in power. However, it should have been introduced nationally to apply to all political parties and leaders," he said, lamenting that the move was overly late.

"This is long overdue. CCM operates like a giant elephant—slow to respond to public pressure but eventually conceding," he said, recalling that the country’s constitution whose outlines were agreed in pre-independence consultations at Lancaster House in London before 1961, included term limits for the national leader and parliamentary seats.

"After independence, some of these principles, including term and age limits for leadership, were abandoned. The Warioba Commission’s draft constitution had proposed restoring them," the notable organiser specified.

Restoring other constitutional pillars such as independent candidacy and allowing citizens to sue the Electoral Commission for misconduct are equally vital, he added.