Tanzania’s October Elections Loom as Opposition Faces Barriers
With the main opposition party disqualified and its leader on trial, elections scheduled for October 29 raise serious questions about competitiveness and democratic space.
Tanzania is gearing up for its general elections on October 29, 2025, which include the presidential, parliamentary, and local government polls. However, the lead-up to the elections has been overshadowed by contentious decisions: the main opposition party (CHADEMA) has been disqualified, and its leader, Tundu Lissu, is on trial for treason.
Election Setup & Timeline
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared 17 presidential candidates to contest.
Nomination period for presidential and vice-presidential candidates runs from August 9 to August 27; parliamentary and ward-level nominations run August 14–27.
Campaigns for mainland Tanzania run from August 28 to October 28. Zanzibar’s campaign period ends by October 27, ahead of early voting on October 28.
A pre-election assessment mission from the African Union visited Tanzania in June to evaluate readiness, women’s participation, political climate, and institutional capacity.
Opposition Crackdown & Political Environment
CHADEMA was disqualified from participating after refusing to sign an electoral code of conduct.
Tundu Lissu, CHADEMA’s leader and presidential candidate in 2020, was arrested in April and charged with treason and incitement.
Another opposition party, ACT-Wazalendo, had its candidate disqualified over alleged irregularities in nominations.
Critics accuse the ruling CCM (Chama Cha Mapinduzi) and state institutions of suppressing dissent, restricting media, and narrowing electoral competitiveness.
Some observers describe the upcoming polls as a projection of electoral authoritarianism—elections held within constrained political space.
What’s at Stake
The legitimacy of the vote: with main opposition voices sidelined, will the electoral outcome be broadly accepted—especially by the citizenry and international observers?
Institutional integrity: how independent will INEC, the judiciary, and security forces act in election oversight and dispute resolution?
Regional implications: Tanzania is a political heavyweight in East Africa. The election’s democratic quality will affect perceptions across the region.
Civic trust: whether citizens—especially youth, marginalized groups, and voters in rural areas—feel safe and empowered to participate will matter.
The October 29 elections in Tanzania are set to be a critical test—not just for who holds power next, but for how contested and open that power contest can be. With opposition parties disqualified and legal crackdowns intensifying, the election may be more about formal legitimacy than real political change. Still, all eyes will be on how the campaign unfolds, how citizens respond, and whether any surprises emerge in the final stretch.
