Tanzania has banned the main opposition party from elections, leading to concerns. According to multiple sources including the British Broadcasting Corporation and Cable News Network, Tanzania’s main opposition party Chadema is barred from participating in the 2025 elections, expected to be held in October following its failure to sign a code of conduct document days after its leader Tundu Lissu — who called for electoral reforms at a political rally in Southern Tanzania for free and fair elections — was charged with treason, deemed to be politically motivated. However, it remains unclear whether the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections will be free, fair and credible and whether political grounds will be improved in Tanzania.
Elections have been criticized in Tanzania on several grounds. Notably, there are various electoral problems including the biasednes of the election commission toward the competitors and the lack of a level playing field during elections in Tanzania. For instance, the Independent National Elections Commission showed open bias towards the ruling party candidate in interpreting the law in the 2020 elections. Though electoral reforms were made by the government in February 2024, there remain several crucial gaps including the appointment of the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the electoral management body. Consequently, the opposition, which has denied participation in elections for reforms, has probably been demanding electoral reforms for free, fair and credible elections in Tanzania on reasonable grounds.
Pertinently saying, political protests and the government’s crackdowns on the opposition have already been on the rise during the last few years and have notably increased during the last few months in Tanzania. Along with Tundu Lissu, who was expected to challenge incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi party in the upcoming elections, many opposition leaders have recently been arrested and detained. But political grounds are likely to deteriorate in the coming days with increased protests, arbitrary arrests and detention, if the opposition party remains outside the elections, for various reasons. Opposition leaders have already warned that they will thwart elections if they are held without electoral reforms.
Photo credit: https://edition.cnn.com/.
But the lack of intention of the government of Samia Suluhu Hassan, who came to power for the first time in 2021 after the death of former president John Magufuli, to address the concerns of the opposition will also play a vital role in deteriorating the situation and increase the chance of reducing the space for the opposition amidst the inadequately developed culture of political tolerance in Tanzania. Notably, the opposition made accusations of arbitrary arrests and abductions of leaders earlier but the government denied them and launched an investigation into the abductions and there is an absence of any steps for addressing political concerns this time.
But a pertinent aspect is whether the government elected without the participation of the opposition parties in the elections will be sustained. Though it is difficult to say it right now, the continuation of political protests and opposition repression is highly likely after the upcoming elections in Tanzania — which has seen many political protests during the last several years. Consequently, free, fair and credible elections with the participation of all the parties including the Chadema party are vital for putting the people’s elected candidate in place and improving political grounds.
But for this, addressing the reasoned concerns of the opposition party is crucial. Talks with the opposition may help address the concerns and improve the political situation. Generating trust from opposition parties, even if reforms are not made, may be helpful in ensuring that elections are free, fair and credible. But it is also vital to give the scope of peaceful political protests without harassment, arbitrary arrests and detention of the opposition parties.
Amir M Sayem
Chief Editor
Dhaka Opinion Magazine
