CHADEMA: Why we insist Tanzania polls will not be free and fair
The opposition party Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) has raised concerns over the credibility of Tanzania’s upcoming elections, citing continued government interference, lack of electoral reforms, and a worrying rise in abductions targeting opposition figures and activists.
The polls are slated for Wednesday, October 29, 2025, with over 37 million voters expected to participate.
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In an interview on a local TV station on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, Daigaratius Munishi, CHADEMA’s International Secretary, said the current political climate does not allow for free and fair elections, describing the process as deeply compromised and controlled by the ruling establishment.
“There are no reforms that have been made to provide an Independent Electoral Commission that can make its own decisions without interference from anybody, including the President. “You do not have one independent electoral commission in Tanzania yet,” Munishi said.
Munishi’s remarks come amid mounting reports of abductions and intimidation from the President Samia Suluhu-led government, incidents that both rights groups and election observers have condemned as an assault on democracy.
He linked these incidents to the broader pattern of state control over the electoral process.
“They are not independent decisions. They are just able to do this, and they do, because they have to comply. Is that how things should work, that they take instructions?” he posed.
The opposition official reiterated CHADEMA’s long-standing demand for electoral reforms before any credible vote can be held. The party’s “No Reforms, No Election” campaign, launched several months before the election day, has yet to see meaningful progress.
“You might remember these are the very things that we as a party have been pushing. That is why we continue to say no reforms, no election. If you don’t make such reforms, you will never have clear, just, fair, and transparent elections,” Munishi stated.
What way for Tanzania?
There are 17 candidates for Tanzania’s top seat, and the electoral body has assured that the elections will be free and fair, even as the opposition has maintained that the polls are compromised.
On his part, Munishi also questioned the legitimacy of the numerous presidential candidates participating in the election, suggesting that many are proxies intended to create the illusion of competition.
“Tanzanians are told they have 17 candidates to choose from. But what are the possibilities that whatever happens, it will be a critical outcome? Who are these candidates? Are they real contenders with a clear aim of competing in elections or just proxy parties elevated by the ruling party to make the election appear participatory?” he posed.
According to Munishi, the existence of such proxy opposition groups only serves to legitimize an unfair process and dilute genuine political competition.
CHADEMA Party is urging both regional bodies and international partners to take a firmer stance on the situation, saying that Tanzanians deserve an electoral process free from manipulation and fear.
“Until we have genuine reforms, there can be no credible election in Tanzania,” he said.
