The move raises concerns about democratic integrity as the ruling party seeks to maintain its long-standing governance.
**Tanzania Bars Opposition Party from Upcoming Elections Amidst Controversy**
**Tanzania Bars Opposition Party from Upcoming Elections Amidst Controversy**
Tanzania's main opposition party, Chadema, faces disqualification from elections after leader charged with treason.
In a significant political development, Tanzania's primary opposition party, Chadema, has been barred from participating in the upcoming elections following a failure to adhere to electoral regulations. Ramadhani Kailima, the director of elections at the Independent National Elections Commission, confirmed that Chadema’s disqualification stemmed from its failure to sign a crucial code of conduct by a set deadline, which was due on Saturday.
This announcement comes just days after Chadema’s leader, Tundu Lissu, was arrested and charged with treason related to his calls for electoral reforms during a rally in southern Tanzania. His arrest has raised alarms about the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party's tightening grip on power, as it has dominated Tanzanian politics for nearly six decades.
Kailima stressed that any party failing to sign the code would be excluded from not only the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections but also from any by-elections until 2030. Earlier, Chadema officials had announced that they would not attend the signing ceremony as part of their ongoing advocacy for electoral reforms.
Lissu had positioned himself as a significant contender against incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan in the elections. Since taking office in 2021, Hassan has been praised for initially easing some of the repressive policies of her predecessor, John Magufuli. However, opposition parties and activists have accused her administration of intensifying crackdowns on dissent, through arrests and alleged kidnappings of political opponents. The Tanzanian government has categorically denied these allegations and has initiated investigations into the claims of abductions.
Under the banner "No Reforms, No Election," Lissu has been vocal about his belief that genuine electoral integrity is impossible without significant changes to the electoral framework, specifically criticizing the current composition of the electoral commission, which he argues is influenced by Hassan's government.
The treason charges against Lissu, which he and his legal counsel describe as politically motivated, have heightened tensions in an already fraught political landscape. He is currently in custody, with a court hearing on his case set for April 24. Lissu's history of political strife includes surviving an assassination attempt in 2017 and previous exile, prompting concerns about the future of political discourse in Tanzania.
This announcement comes just days after Chadema’s leader, Tundu Lissu, was arrested and charged with treason related to his calls for electoral reforms during a rally in southern Tanzania. His arrest has raised alarms about the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party's tightening grip on power, as it has dominated Tanzanian politics for nearly six decades.
Kailima stressed that any party failing to sign the code would be excluded from not only the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections but also from any by-elections until 2030. Earlier, Chadema officials had announced that they would not attend the signing ceremony as part of their ongoing advocacy for electoral reforms.
Lissu had positioned himself as a significant contender against incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan in the elections. Since taking office in 2021, Hassan has been praised for initially easing some of the repressive policies of her predecessor, John Magufuli. However, opposition parties and activists have accused her administration of intensifying crackdowns on dissent, through arrests and alleged kidnappings of political opponents. The Tanzanian government has categorically denied these allegations and has initiated investigations into the claims of abductions.
Under the banner "No Reforms, No Election," Lissu has been vocal about his belief that genuine electoral integrity is impossible without significant changes to the electoral framework, specifically criticizing the current composition of the electoral commission, which he argues is influenced by Hassan's government.
The treason charges against Lissu, which he and his legal counsel describe as politically motivated, have heightened tensions in an already fraught political landscape. He is currently in custody, with a court hearing on his case set for April 24. Lissu's history of political strife includes surviving an assassination attempt in 2017 and previous exile, prompting concerns about the future of political discourse in Tanzania.
