Malecela joined Tanzania's ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), in 1981 when she was at KilaKala. At the time, party membership required an entrance course, which Dr. Malecela attended in April, after which she became full member.[6][7] She ran for election in the CCM presidential primaries,[8][9] which took place in July 2015 to determine CCM's nominee for the Presidency of Tanzania.[10][11][12]