John Wagesa Heche is the new vice-chairman of the CHADEMA party

He was elected on 22 January 2025 after defeating his closest rival Ezekia Wenje. Heche garnered 577 votes, translating to 57% of the votes, and Wenje received 372 votes, equivalent to 37% of the total vote.

John Wagesa Heche was born on July 14, 1981 in Tarime, Mara region, Tanzania. He attended Bulima Primary School before joining Musoma Alliance for his Secondary School education.

After high school in 1997, he joined Bunda Teachers’ Training College and graduated with a Diploma in teaching in 2004. He later joined St. Augustine University of Tanzania (SUAT) and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education (Arts) in 2009.

Politically, Heche was elected as a councilor for the Tarime district council in 2010 before becoming a member of Parliament (MP) Tarime Rural constituency in 2015 and served until 2020. He was elected at the age of 34.

The firebrand politician also served at various levels of the party’s hierarchy. He was once the leader of the Chadema youth council (Bavicha), Serengeti regional Chairman, and a member of the party’s national executive committee.

Shortly after taking over as Chadema vice-chairperson position, the youthful politician said his main goal and that of the party is to put strategies in place for capturing power in 2025 elections by defeating CCM in general polls

Heche, 43, took over from Tundu Lissu, who was elected new chairman of the CHADEMA, after defeating Freeman Mbowe in the 22nd January 2025 party election.