Uhuru Media Group is the official media arm of Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), Tanzania’s long-standing ruling party. The group operates a network of print, radio, and television outlets, including the Swahili-language daily Uhuru, the weekly Mzalendo, Uhuru Radio, and Channel Ten. It serves as a central pillar of the party’s public communications and propaganda infrastructure. Historically, Uhuru was established as a party newspaper in 1962 to advance the objectives of TANU (Tanganyika African National Union), CCM’s predecessor. Over the years, it has expanded into a full-fledged media group, disseminating content that unambiguously supports CCM and its leadership.
Media assets
Publishing: Uhuru, Mzalendo
Television: Channel Ten
Radio: Uhuru Radio, Classic FM
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
Uhuru Media Group is wholly owned and operated by CCM. The party appoints the group’s senior management, including the Managing Editor and heads of broadcast services, through internal party organs.
There is no corporate independence from the party structure. Editorial decisions are made in coordination with the CCM’s information and ideology secretariat, effectively positioning the outlet as a direct communication tool for the party.
Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), meaning Party of the Revolution in Swahili, is the ruling political party in Tanzania and one of Africa’s longest-standing dominant parties. It was formed in 1977 through the merger of two post-independence parties: TANU (Tanganyika African National Union), led by Julius Nyerere on the mainland, and ASP (Afro-Shirazi Party) from Zanzibar. CCM inherited a strong one-party legacy and maintained political dominance even after Tanzania transitioned to multi-party democracy in the 1990s. The party has held uninterrupted power since independence in 1961, with each of its presidential candidates winning national elections. Despite growing calls for reform and transparency, CCM continues to shape Tanzania’s political, economic, and media landscape.
Source of funding and budget
The group operates on a mixed model of commercial advertising and direct financial support from CCM. While it carries paid advertisements, a significant portion of its operations is believed to be subsidized by the party, which does not publish transparent budget allocations for its media wing.
There are no public financial disclosures, and audited accounts are not available. Like many pro-government outlets in Tanzania, the group reportedly benefits from government-linked advertising contracts, further blurring the line between party and state funding.
Editorial independence
Uhuru Media Group’s editorial content is explicitly partisan. Its coverage promotes CCM policies and leadership, defends the party’s record, and routinely criticizes opposition parties, often using alarmist or delegitimizing narratives.
There is no pretense of editorial neutrality. The group’s mission is to propagate party ideology, and it does so unapologetically. Editorial guidelines, if they exist, are internal party documents, and no external oversight or accountability mechanism exists to monitor editorial fairness or ethical standards.
June 2025