The opposition in Tanzania complains that the election process is “skewed”

On January 25, 2023, opposition leader and previous presidential candidate Tundu Lissu and Freeman Mbowe, the chairman of Tanzania’s biggest opposition party CHADEMA, wave to their supporters at the Buliaga grounds in the Temeke area of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Tanzanian opposition parties are expressing concern about the way the forthcoming local elections will be conducted, pointing to problems with voter registration and oversight of the process as a whole.

According to the parties, the procedure was purposefully set up to stifle their candidates in favor of the candidates from the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).

The method has been designed to stifle democracy and political rights in Tanzania at the local level, according to the opposition groups ACT-Wazalendo and Chadema. The goal is to make it easier for CCM leaders to win the national election the following year.

Ado Shaibu, the secretary-general of ACT-Wazalendo, stated earlier this week that the parties’ agents’ swearing-in and political parties’ participation were restricted to satisfy demands for the opposition candidates’ full election participation.

“A significant flaw, particularly in Dar es Salaam, where participation occurs just one or two days prior to the swearing-in of agents, is the intentional limitation of the voter registration process by local government officials,” Shaibu stated.

“The other flaw designed in favor of the CCM candidates was the registration of unqualified voters,” he said.

According to ACT-Wazalendo, the issues surrounding the 2020 election have not been addressed, and the authorities in charge seem hesitant to have a real conversation.

According to national chairman Othman Masoud Othman, opposition parties desired electoral reforms that would use elections to enact democratic improvements.

According to John Mrema, director of parliamentary affairs for Chadema, unqualified voters, including elementary school students under the age of 18, have registered to vote. The EastAfrican was unable to confirm the accusations on its own.

According to Mrema, voter registration centers have been set up at CCM offices, with other centers located in buildings owned by local CCM officials.
In an attempt to halt the 2024 local government elections scheduled for November 27, three persons have filed an application at the High Court in Dar es Salaam.

In order to contest the 2024 local government election rules, Bob Wangwe, Ananilea Nkya, and Buberwa Kaiza asked for permission to file a judicial review action. They also asked that the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) conduct the election in compliance with the 2024 Independent Electoral Commission Act.

However, in a response, the respondents—the Attorney General, the President’s Office for Regional Administration and Local Government, and the Minister of State—asked the court to dismiss it.

The case has not yet been resolved.

On October 11, 2024, Tanzania opened voter registration for elections to local governments. President Samia Suluhu encouraged Tanzanians to register in large numbers so they could vote for their local leaders in the Chamwino neighborhood, which is close to the State House in Dodoma.

The Ministry of State, President’s Office, Regional Administration, and Local Government will oversee the election, which will take place at the village and ward levels.

Tanzanian citizens of sound mind who are at least eighteen years old and reside in their local rural communities or urban streets are eligible to vote.

To finance the elections, the government has set aside Tsh17.79 billion ($6.5 million).