Key Points
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Tanzania president cleared to run in October election.
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Key opposition rivals barred from participating in the vote.
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Concerns grow over fairness and democratic competition.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s bid for a second term in Tanzania has been confirmed by the electoral commission, which has given her permission to run in the general election scheduled for October. However, a number of important opposition opponents were disqualified from running, casting doubt on the validity of the election in one of the biggest economies in East Africa.
After her predecessor John Magufuli passed away in 2021, Hassan became Tanzania’s first female president. Since then, she has made an effort to present herself as a reformist leader who is receptive to political investment and discussion. It was generally anticipated that she would be approved to run in the October election.
Tanzania’s president is exonerated while opponents are barred
According to a report by reuters, Hassan complied with all requirements to run as the candidate of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, according to confirmation from the National Electoral Commission. It also disqualified a number of opposition leaders for not meeting eligibility requirements. Leading voices from Chadema, the nation’s main opposition party, who charge the government with using technicalities to marginalize opponents, are among those blocked.
Leaders of the opposition responded angrily, stating that the action threatens democratic competition. “This is not a level playing field,” said one disqualified candidate. Concerns about the election being perceived as predetermined were also raised by human rights organizations.
Hassan has positioned herself as a unifier since taking office, reversing some of Magufuli’s hardline policies and easing restrictions on the press and political gatherings. Still, critics argue that her government has not gone far enough to guarantee fair competition.
Analysts say her path to re-election now looks virtually unchallenged, with the exclusion of popular opposition contenders clearing the way for CCM to maintain its decades-long hold on power. Voter turnout, they caution, could be dampened if the public perceives the process as uncompetitive.
Concerns grow over Tanzania’s democratic trajectory
The disqualification of opposition candidates is likely to intensify scrutiny from international observers and regional partners. Tanzania, a country of more than 60 million people, has long been viewed as a pillar of stability in East Africa, but its elections have often been marred by controversy.
Hassan’s supporters insist her candidacy reflects continuity and stability at a time when global investors are eyeing Tanzania’s natural gas reserves and infrastructure projects. Her critics, however, argue that without genuine competition, the October poll risks entrenching one-party dominance.
As the campaign season begins, Tanzania’s democracy will once again be tested — with the balance between reform and control at the heart of the debate.
