KEY POINTS
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Luhaga Mpina cleared to contest Tanzania’s October presidential election.
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Court ruling overturned INEC’s decision to block his candidacy.
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Opposition still faces crackdowns under President Hassan’s government.
Tanzania’s presidential race has taken a dramatic turn after the national electoral commission on Saturday accepted the nomination papers of Luhaga Mpina, a senior figure in the Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT-Wazalendo). The decision follows a high court ruling that overturned a previous move by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to block his candidacy, opening the way for him to challenge President Samia Suluhu Hassan in next month’s election.
Mpina cleared to contest election
Mpina’s path to the ballot was uncertain until Thursday, when a high court overturned an earlier disqualification tied to nomination technicalities. INEC had initially barred him from lodging his papers, citing alleged irregularities in his party’s compliance with registration requirements. That ruling, if upheld, would have left Hassan facing only minor challengers on October 29.
Speaking to reporters after successfully submitting his nomination papers in Dar es Salaam, Mpina framed the victory as more than just personal. “Opposition politicians and opposition parties are not treasonous and criminals,” he said. “There is no need to use authorities to punish political parties.”
INEC chairperson formally accepted his nomination Saturday, confirming Mpina as ACT-Wazalendo’s presidential candidate.
Opposition faces tough political climate
Despite his clearance, opposition candidates in Tanzania face steep odds against the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), which has governed the country since independence. President Hassan, who took office in March 2021, remains the frontrunner, backed by the CCM’s extensive grassroots networks and state machinery.
The broader opposition landscape has been unsettled by government crackdowns. CHADEMA, Tanzania’s largest opposition party, was barred in April from contesting the election after refusing to sign the electoral code of conduct. Its chair, Tundu Lissu, was later jailed on treason charges, intensifying concerns about shrinking political space.
According to Reuters, Hassan has rejected allegations of repression, insisting her administration is committed to upholding human rights and democratic freedoms. But rights groups and analysts say the removal of major rivals has tilted the playing field heavily in favor of CCM.
Mpina’s candidacy, however, may inject fresh energy into the race. Analysts say his clearance could galvanize ACT-Wazalendo supporters and offer voters at least one credible alternative in a contest that had seemed headed for a lopsided outcome.
