Enock Koola (35), a staunch member of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party who led the party primaries for the parliamentary seat in Vunjo in 2020, has once again collected nomination forms to contest for the same position. He is among several aspirants seeking to unseat the outgoing Member of Parliament, Dr. Charles Kimei.

Earlier today, June 28, 2025, at 8:00 a.m.—the first day of collecting CCM nomination forms for parliamentary candidates in Vunjo Constituency, Kilimanjaro Region—Koola was the first to arrive at the CCM Moshi District Office to collect the forms. He was followed by five other contenders, including Dr. Kimei.

Other aspirants who picked and submitted their forms at different times today include Yuvenal Shirima, Diddas Lyamuya, Obrey Silayo and Lucy Mrema.

After collecting their forms from CCM District Secretary for Moshi Rural, Ramadhani Mahanyu, none of the candidates spoke to the media. Instead, each quietly proceeded to their vehicles and departed.

The highlight of the day was the rekindled rivalry between Koola and Dr. Kimei, rooted in their closely contested 2020 primaries.

In the 2020 internal party elections, Koola, an economist by profession, led the polls, outperforming all other candidates—including Dr. Kimei. However, it was Kimei who was ultimately selected by CCM to carry the party’s flag and went on to win the parliamentary seat.

Koola, who holds a master’s degree, garnered 187 votes out of 567 cast, while his closest challenger, Dr. Kimei, received 178 votes, coming in second. Other contenders and their vote tallies were: Crispin Meela (47), Laurance Mrack (44) and Regina Chonjo (35).

Who is Koola?

Politically, Enock serves as a member of Council and Executive Committee of the CCM Parents’ Wing in Kilimanjaro Region (2022–2027), as well as a Council Member in Moshi Rural District for the same period.

Academically, Enock is well-credentialed, having studied at institutions both within and outside Tanzania. In May 2022, he earned a certificate in Board Leadership from the Institute of Directors Tanzania (IoDT) in Dar es Salaam.

Between September 2010 and 2011, he completed a Master of Science in Investment Management at Cass Business School in London, UK.

Prior to that, from September 2007 to June 2010, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Management from Cardiff University, also in the UK.

Currently, Enock serves as the Chief Executive Officer of three companies: Gemini Engineering & Construction (Dar es Salaam, since 2017), Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel (Moshi, since 2015), and A1 Outdoor Tanzania (Dar es Salaam, since 2014). He is recognised for his proficiency in business leadership, project management (both large and small scale), budgeting, financial analysis and strategic planning.

He also previously worked as a Senior Officer at Sapien Capital Limited in London, UK, between April 2012 and December 2013.

Vunjo Constituency: A one-term tradition

Vunjo Constituency, located in Moshi District, has a peculiar history—no Member of Parliament has ever served two consecutive terms since the constituency’s establishment in 1995. Dr. Kimei now faces the uphill task to breaking this long-standing frenzy.

Before its establishment, Vunjo was part of Moshi Rural Constituency, which was represented by the late Augustine Mrema for nearly a decade (1985–1990 and 1990–March 1995).

Mrema did not complete his second term; he resigned in March 1995 and defected to NCCR-Mageuzi after he publicly fell out with his party. He had previously served as a cabinet minister in several portfolios under the Second Phase Government.

In the first multiparty general election, the seat was won by James Mbatia of NCCR-Mageuzi. Mbatia returned to the position again in the 2015 general election and served until 2020.

In the controversial 2020 general election, Dr. Kimei was elected as MP and is set to complete his term on August 3, 2025, when the 12th Parliament will officially be dissolved.

Following Mbatia’s initial win in the 1995 elections, he failed to retain the seat in the 2000 general election, which was won by retired Major Jesse Makundi of the Tanzania Labour Party (TLP). Makundi served from 2000 to 2005 and, like his predecessors, only served one term.

In the 2005 general election, Makundi did not return. Instead, the late Aloyce Benti Kimaro was elected on a CCM ticket and served until 2010.

Kimaro also did not secure re-election. In the 2010 general election, Augustine Mrema made a comeback and was elected MP for Vunjo under TLP, serving until 2015. He too served only one term.

In the 2015 elections, James Mbatia reclaimed the seat, continuing Vunjo’s pattern of non-consecutive tenures.