With no heavyweight opposition candidates cleared to compete in Wednesday's election, many Tanzanians feel the vote is less like a contest and more like a coronation for President Samia Suluhu Hassan, as she faces her first presidential election. The 65-year-old became the East African nation's first female head of state after the death in 2021 of sitting President John Magufuli. He was admired on the one hand for his no-nonsense drive to stamp out corruption but criticized on the other for his authoritarian clampdown on dissent and controversial attitude towards the Covid pandemic. President Samia, who had been vice-president, seemed like a breath of fresh air. With her warmer and friendlier style, she initiated reforms that appeared to represent a radical departure from her predecessor's policies. Her four Rs policy - 'reconciliation, resilience, reform, and rebuilding' - reopened Tanzania to foreign investors and restored donor relations. However, over the last two years, the political space has drastically shrunk, with more ruthless targeting of government critics and opposition voices than ever before. Reports by Freedom House, a US-based democracy and human rights advocacy group, show a declining rating for Tanzania's freedom, which now reflects fears of an increasingly authoritarian regime. Similarly, the political opposition remains fractured and banned from the electoral process; the main opposition party Chadema is urging a boycott of the upcoming presidential election. Meanwhile, the campaign in Zanzibar shows vibrant debate, contrasting with the oppressive atmosphere on the mainland. Many citizens express disillusionment, believing the election lacks credibility under the CCM's previous dominance and the curtailing of political discourse. With the election looming, voices calling for a return to democratic principles and accountability grow louder.