THE ruling party has a pool of experienced and capable leaders to take the place of former Mainland vice chairman Abdulrahman Kinana, the party secretariat has declared.

Amos Makalla, the Ideology, Publicity and Training secretary, made this at a media briefing relating to preparations for the  party congress slated for January 16 to 18 in the capital.

 “There has been a wave of rumours and fervent speculation about who will be picked for Kinana’s position, with some notable names being suggested. But I want to make it clear that the position of CCM vice chairman is not contested. It is filled through nomination at high-level meetings of the party,” he said.

He emphasized that the party will adhere to its constitution to nominate a clearly capable leader who will handle the vice chairmanship role for the Mainland in a patriotic manner, committed to ensuring the party’s political success.

The congress, preceded by sessions of the party’s central committee and national executive committee, is the final stage of the nomination and endorsement of a new vice chairman for the vacancy left by the veteran party administrator and decades-long cabinet minister, who resigned back in July.

“All preparations for the key party gatherings have been completed under the supervision of secretary general Emmanuel Nchimbi,” he affirmed.

The congress will have three agenda items, first selecting the Mainland vice chairman, receiving a report on the party’s activities and achievements from 2022 to 2025, and reviewing the implementation of the party’s electioon manifestos for the two parts of the union, he added.