Mpina, the opposition candidate, has been approved to run for president of Tanzania

Senior politician Luhaga Mpina of the second largest opposition party submitted his candidacy papers to Tanzania’s national electoral commission on Saturday, allowing him to run for president next month after a court decision.

An earlier decision by the Independent National election Commission (INEC) that had barred Mpina from filing his election nomination papers following his disqualification was overturned by a high court order on Thursday.

In the October 29 election, incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who has held office since March 2021, would only encounter opposition from smaller parties as a result of his disqualification.

Mpina, the leading contender for the Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT-Wazalendo) party, successfully contested the Office of Registrar of Political Parties’ decision to disqualify him, claiming that his party had not followed the proper nomination procedures.

Mpina told a media briefing following the filing of his candidacy papers that the East African nation’s constitution guaranteed political parties the right to function there.

Politicians and opposition parties are not criminals or traitors. Mpina declared in the capital, Dar es Salaam, that political parties do not need to be punished by the government.

The INEC chairperson approved his nomination as ACT-Wazalendo’s presidential candidate earlier on Saturday.

The government is cracking down on opponents, making it difficult for opposition parties to unseat Hassan and her ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party.

As part of its demand for reforms, the leading opposition party CHADEMA was disqualified from running in the election in April for not signing the electoral code of conduct.

Amid criticism of Hassan’s human rights record, party chairperson Tundu Lissu was charged with treason and is currently in jail.

Hassan said her government was dedicated to upholding human rights and refuted the charges.