On August 28, 2025, Tanzania officially kicked off its election campaign season, setting the stage for what is shaping up to be one of the country’s most contentious general elections in recent memory. The campaign launch, held in Dar es Salaam, was marked by celebration and spectacle—complete with performances by popular musicians, according to coverage by DW. But beneath the surface glitz, the run-up to the October 29 vote has been overshadowed by mounting political tensions, high-profile disqualifications, and the conspicuous absence of key opposition leaders.
At the center of the unfolding drama is President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the incumbent from the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party. On August 27, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cleared Hassan to stand for a second term, a move defended by former President Jakaya Kikwete. “We have a tradition that if the incumbent president seeks a second term, they are given the sole ticket. Why should it be different for President Samia?” Kikwete remarked, as reported by AP. The following day, Hassan introduced her party’s full slate of parliamentary candidates at a vibrant rally, officially launching CCM’s campaign.
Hassan’s campaign promises focused on expanding healthcare, resolving controversies over hospitals withholding bodies due to unpaid bills, establishing a reconciliation commission, and initiating the process for drafting a new constitution. “Our party has accomplished major milestones and has the energy to continue leading our country,” Hassan told supporters, as noted by DW. These pledges aim to project an image of continuity and reform, building on her record since taking office in March 2021 after the death of President John Magufuli.
Yet, the democratic credentials of this election have come under sharp scrutiny. On the same day campaign season began, the High Court of Tanzania, Dodoma Zone, started hearing a case challenging the disqualification of ACT-Wazalendo’s presidential hopeful, Luhaga Mpina. According to Daily News, Mpina—representing the country’s second-largest opposition party—was barred from contesting the October 29 polls. The disqualification has sparked legal action and outrage among opposition supporters, who see it as part of a broader crackdown on dissent.
The main opposition party, CHADEMA, has also been sidelined. The party was barred from participating in the election after refusing to sign an electoral conduct document and calling for electoral reforms, according to reports from AP and France 24. Its leader, Tundu Lissu, remains in custody after being charged with treason in April for his advocacy of electoral reforms. The absence of both CHADEMA and ACT-Wazalendo’s leading candidates from the ballot has fueled allegations of electoral authoritarianism, with even regional election observers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and East African Community (EAC) excluded from the polls, as noted by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS).
President Hassan’s relationship with the opposition has been complicated. Upon assuming office, she struck a conciliatory tone, lifting a six-year ban on political rallies that had been imposed by her predecessor, John Magufuli. This early move was widely welcomed as a step toward restoring democratic space. However, in recent months, her approach has shifted. Hassan has issued stern warnings to foreign activists who have shown interest in the opposition leader’s court case, stating she would not allow outsiders to “destroy the country.” As she explained during her campaign launch, “I inherited a country that needed both national and international consensus to be governed, a consensus between government and political leaders, businesses, and international communities.”
Despite the exclusion of major opposition figures, the ballot will feature 16 other presidential candidates. Still, critics argue that the absence of the most prominent opposition leaders has tilted the playing field heavily in favor of CCM. Hassan’s rivals have accused her of silencing critics, pointing to the arrests of opposition leaders in recent months as evidence of a shrinking democratic space. Human rights groups and international observers have echoed these concerns, warning that the October elections may reveal the extent of Tanzania’s democratic decline.
Security during the campaign period is another focal point. The Tanzanian Police Force issued assurances on August 27 that it was “well prepared to ensure safety and maintain peace throughout the upcoming election campaign period and beyond,” Daily News reported. With political tensions running high, authorities are under pressure to maintain order while respecting the rights of all political actors. The prospect of protests or unrest looms, especially as opposition supporters challenge the legitimacy of the disqualifications and the broader electoral process.
Yet, amid the turmoil, there have been rare glimpses of political unity. Back in June, 14 political parties demonstrated patriotism by coming together in a show of unity, putting national interests above partisan divides. According to Daily News, this act was hailed as a refreshing display of political maturity at a time when the country is otherwise deeply polarized.
For many Tanzanians, the stakes in this election are high. The October 29 vote will determine not only the country’s next president but also the direction of its democracy. Will the election mark a return to greater political openness and consensus, or will it cement Tanzania’s slide toward one-party dominance? With the main opposition leader still behind bars and key challengers disqualified, the outcome may already feel preordained to some. Yet, with promises of constitutional reform and national reconciliation on the table, others hope there is still a chance for meaningful change.
As the campaign season unfolds, all eyes will be on Tanzania—not just to see who wins, but to gauge the health of its democracy and the resilience of its people in the face of mounting challenges. The coming weeks promise both uncertainty and possibility, as Tanzanians prepare to cast their ballots and shape the future of their nation.