15 years of political pluralism have made a significant change in the country's configurations of power from power monopoly by single party and central state bureaucracy to a more decentralized and balanced distribution of power. In regard to the political parties, the ruling party CCM has faced stiffer challenges from the opposition during the past two years than at any other time in history. Although CCM has continued to enjoy substantial dominance in Parliament, apparent divisions in CCM rooted on the electoral groupings of the 2005 presidential race and party due to increased freedom within the party have given advantage to the thin opposition in Parliament.