DELEGATES to the CCM extraordinary national conference have approved amendments to the party’s constitution that, among others, increases members’ participation in decision-making.

Issa Ussi Gavu, the organisation secretary for the National Executive Committee, said in presenting those amendments that they are intended to strengthen the grassroots structure and address corruption within the party.

The amendments raise the elected central committee from six to ten, with a mandatory of two women members from the Mainland and Zanzibar respectively, he said.

The number of members at the ward, constituency and district levels participating in preference votes for councillors, members of Parliament or House of Representatives.

Aspirants will now be vetted in meetings that propose no more than three names, which will then be returned for preference polls.

One change to Article 9 removes the requirement for an individual wishing to join the party to fill out a form. Instead, aspirants will submit an application to the branch secretary in their area of domicile, he said.

Moreover, amendments to Articles 22(2)(a) and (b) set new criteria for setting up branches, providing for at least 10 households in urban areas with membership ranging from 50 to 80.

 In rural areas, the membership will range from 30 to 80 while in Zanzibar a branch can be formed by 20 to 30 members from at least 10 households, he elaborated.

A new provision, Article 47(1) (s), has all political committee members at the ward and branch level, plus office bearers at the cell level, to participate in the selection process for nominations.

Article 60(1) (T) has been amended to allow members of political committees at the ward and branch levels to become delegates at the constituency' general meeting during elections.

Similarly, Article 73(1) (z) A enables these members to participate as delegates at the district general meeting, while a key amendment to Article 91(6) (c) empowers the NEC political committee to vet candidates for councillor positions before they are subjected to preference votes.

For each constituency, the political committee will review and propose up to six members who have expressed interest in running for councillor.

Following the preference vote, the committee will submit its recommendations to the regional executive committee regarding | candidates to be nominated for councillor positions in line with electoral laws.

Article 104(1) (s) increases the number of NEC members on the central committee from six to ten, with a minimum of four women, two from each region.

Article 105(7) (f) empowers the central committee to vet candidates for parliamentary and House of Representatives seats before they are subjected to preference polls.

The committee will review and propose up to three candidates for each constituency, and following the preference votes, the central committee will submit its final recommendations for nomination to NEC.

The amendments are expected to increase transparency, accountability and members’ involvement in the nomination and voting processes, strengthening the party’s internal structures and responsiveness to members' expectations, the secretary intoned.