2025 Tanzanian general election

2025 Tanzanian general election

←  2020 29 October 2025 2030 →
Registered	37,655,559 [1]
Presidential election
Nominee Samia Suluhu Hassan Party CCM Running mate Emmanuel Nchimbi
President before election Samia Suluhu Hassan CCM Elected President TBD

General elections are due to be held in Tanzania on 29 October 2025 to elect the president, members of the National Assembly and ward councillors. ^[2]

Background

In 2024, the government introduced new electoral laws - the Presidential, Parliamentary and Councillors’ Elections Act, 2024 and the Independent National Electoral Commission Act. These laws were intended to improve transparency and streamline electoral procedures. ^[3] Supporters argued the reforms enhanced order and predictability in the electoral system, but critics contended they maintained government influence over the electoral commission and failed to guarantee a truly level playing field. ^{[4] [5]}

Electoral system

The President of Tanzania is elected by plurality voting; the candidate who receives the most votes is elected. Article 39(1) of the 1977 constitution requires candidates to be Tanzanian citizens by birth, at least 40 years old, be nominated by a political party of which they are a member, be qualified to be an MP or a member of the Zanzibar House of Representatives, and not have any convictions related to tax evasion. ^[6]

Candidates

In January 2025, the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party nominated incumbent president Samia Suluhu Hassan as its presidential candidate for the election and Emmanuel Nchimbi as her running mate. ^[7] In August 2025, Luhaga Mpina, a CCM lawmaker, left the party and joined the Alliance for Change and Transparency. However, he was barred from running for president over complaints that the party had failed to comply with nomination procedures in the primaries. ^[8] Suluhu's candidacy was confirmed on 27 August 2025 by the Independent National Electoral Commission, which also approved the candidacies of 16 other presidential candidates. ^[9]

In April 2025, the opposition Chadema party was disqualified from competing in the election after the National Electoral Commission said it had failed to sign a code of conduct document that was due on 12 April. ^[10] On 9 April 2025, its chairman Tundu Lissu was arrested on charges of incitement and treason after calling for electoral reforms at a rally in Mbinga. ^{[11] [12]} On 12 April, he was disqualified from participating in the election. ^[13]

Campaign

The campaign period officially began on 28 August and ended shortly before the polling day. ^[14]

The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) promoted President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s record on infrastructure, education, and stability. Opposition participation was limited after Chadema and Alliance for Change and Transparency were barred, leaving CCM largely unchallenged. ^[15]

Observers, including the Human Rights Watch, reported restrictions on opposition activity, harassment of critics, and limited access to independent media. State-aligned outlets gave wide coverage to CCM, while independent media faced regulatory pressure. ^[16]

Observers and oversight

For the first time in recent elections, Tanzania limited the participation of regional and international observer missions. Organizations such as the Southern African Development Community and the East African Community were not fully accredited to observe the process. ^{[17] [18]} Analysts from the Institute for Security Studies noted that the absence of international observers could affect transparency and undermine public confidence in the results. ^[19]

References

1. "INEC | Waliojiandikisha (2025)". www.inec.go.tz. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
2. "Tanzania sets elections for Oct 29". Citizen Digital. 26 July 2025. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
3. "Tanzania's new political and electoral reforms : A step to the right, a high jump to go! - GEPC". 20 February 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
4. Eyaaz (27 September 2025). "Tanzanians go to the polls with unresolved constitutional reforms". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
5. "New electoral body sparks controversy: Stakeholders divided on independence". The Citizen. 13 April 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
6. "Constitution of Tanzania" (PDF). Judiciary of Tanzania. 1977. Article 39(1). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 December 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
7. "Tanzania's ruling party nominates President Hassan as candidate for president". Africanews. 20 January 2025. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
8. "President Samia Hassan approved for Tanzania's October vote". Africanews. 28 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
9. "Official election campaigns kick off in Tanzania as main opposition leader remains in custody". AP News. 29 August 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
10. "Tanzania's main opposition party banned from election". BBC. 13 April 2025. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
11. "Tanzania arrests prominent opposition leader after calling for electoral reforms at rally". AP News . 10 April 2025. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
12. "Tanzania opposition party leader Tundu Lissu charged with treason". Al Jazeera . 10 April 2025. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
13. "Tanzania's main opposition party banned from election". BBC. 13 April 2025. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
14. Kasanga, Esther (2 September 2025). "ELECTION 2025: Media's crucial role in Tanzania's general election - Daily News" . Retrieved 3 October 2025.
15. "Tanzania president cleared to run in October election, key rivals barred". Reuters. 27 August 2025. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
16. "Tanzania: Deepening Repression Threatens Elections | Human Rights Watch". 29 September 2025. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
17. "Tanzania excludes EAC, SADC on observers list for October 28 polls - The EastAfrican". www.theeastafrican.co.ke. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
18. "Ten embassies permitted to observe October polls | The Guardian". ippmedia.co.tz. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
19. "October elections will reveal the extent of Tanzania's democratic decline". ISS Africa. Retrieved 9 October 2025.