Tanzanians headed to the polls in local government elections seen as a critical test of the nation’s democratic processes ahead of next year’s presidential race.
Approximately 31 million eligible voters cast their ballots to elect over 80,000 street and village leaders, positions that hold significant influence across the country.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), which has dominated Tanzanian politics for decades, faced a strong challenge from opposition parties. The main opposition party, Chadema, had boycotted the 2019 elections but participated this time, raising concerns about fairness.
Despite the president’s assurances of a free and fair election, Chadema accused authorities of widespread irregularities, including vote-rigging and ballot-stuffing. Thousands of Chadema candidates were reportedly disqualified from running, leading to protests.
Chadema reported that three of its members were killed on the eve of the vote, and party leader Freeman Mbowe was briefly detained during a rally over the weekend.
President Hassan, who assumed office in 2021 following the sudden death of her predecessor, John Magufuli, initially earned praise for loosening restrictions on opposition and the media. However, rights groups and Western governments have since expressed concern over what they see as renewed repression in the lead-up to Wednesday’s polls.
The elections, which serve as a precursor to the 2025 presidential race, are being closely watched as a measure of Tanzania’s democratic progress.
