The Revolutionary Party (Chama Cha Mapinduzi- CCM) is the ruling political party in

Tanzania and is widely credited with playing a pivotal role in the nation's political and

economic development. Found-ed in 1977 following the merger of the Tanganyika African

National Union (TANU) and the Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP), the sole operating parties in

mainland Tanzania and the semi-autonomous islands of Zanzibar,respectively. The party was

established to replace the coalition of anti-colonial independence movements that had been

ruling the country since independence in 1961. Since then, CCM has been the dominant force

in Tanzanian politics,winning every election since its inception.