Tanzania electoral body bars opposition candidate ahead of October polls
Mpina's disqualification came on the eve of the official campaign period, which begins Thursday, August 28, and deepens concerns over the narrowing space for opposition politics in the country.
Tanzania’s electoral commission has barred opposition candidate Luhaga Mpina from contesting in the upcoming presidential election, a move his party ACT Wazalendo described as unlawful and a threat to democracy, just weeks before the October polls.
ACT Wazalendo, Tanzania’s third-largest party, had nominated Mpina as its flag bearer but said he was blocked on Wednesday from returning his nomination forms at the electoral commission offices.
The party confirmed it had received a letter from the commission claiming Mpina was not qualified to vie for the presidency.
“This is a dangerous precedent for the future of our nation and our democracy,” ACT Wazalendo said, warning that the decision suggested candidates could be “arbitrarily disqualified” at the discretion of individuals rather than through the courts.
The party dismissed the commission’s reasoning as “embarrassing” and one that “raises serious questions regarding the integrity, diligence, competence and independence of the Commission”. It announced plans to challenge the decision in court.
The disqualification came on the eve of the official campaign period, which begins Thursday, August 28, and deepens concerns over the narrowing space for opposition politics in the country.
Chadema, the main opposition party, has already been barred from the race, while its leader Tundu Lissu has been detained since April on treason charges that carry the death penalty.
With both Chadema sidelined and ACT Wazalendo’s candidate blocked, the path appears clear for President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is seeking her first electoral mandate since succeeding John Magufuli in 2021.
Critics say the exclusions highlight the shrinking political freedoms under her administration.
Earlier on Wednesday, Samia officially submitted her nomination forms to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), becoming the first presidential candidate to do so.
She arrived at the INEC offices in Dodoma around 8:00 am, dressed in the colours of her Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, and was accompanied by her running mate, Ambassador Emmanuel John Chimbi. She was received by INEC Director of Elections Ramadhan Kailima.
This was the second time Samia led the process, having also been the first candidate to collect nomination papers. In a statement shared later on X, she thanked CCM members nationwide for sponsoring her candidacy.
“Today at the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dodoma, accompanied by my running mate, Ambassador Ndugu Emmanuel John Chimbi, I returned my nomination forms to contest for the position of President of the United Republic of Tanzania in the 2025 General Elections,” the statement in Swahili roughly translates.
She further expressed gratitude to CCM supporters, noting their backing represented “millions of our fellow members from every region in the country”.
Samia also called for peace and unity during the electioneering season while pledging to continue serving Tanzanians with integrity if re-elected.
“As we head towards launching the election campaigns, let us continue to maintain this unity to ensure our party's victory, and with the permission of God, let us return to continue serving the people as they have expected,” she said.
