NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Tanzania’s governing party has been in charge for 64 years, much of that time without any serious opposition. That looks set to continue as Tanzanians go to the polls Wednesday in an election widely expected to be won by President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Hassan, a former vice president, rose automatically to the presidency in 2021 following the death of her predecessor. Although Tanzania is a multiparty democracy, the country’s longtime ruling party, Hassan’s Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) — or Party of the Revolution — has held power continuously since independence from Britain in 1961.
With a population of 68 million and an annual per capita income of roughly $1,200, Tanzania remains an outlier in the region, where liberation parties have been losing influence and youthful opposition groups are increasingly vocal in demanding political change.
However, authorities in Tanzania have cracked down on opposition leaders, civic groups, journalists, and others in what Amnesty International has described as a growing “climate of fear” ahead of the general elections that will choose the president, lawmakers, and local leaders.
Hassan, Tanzania’s sixth president and the country’s first female leader, initially defied early expectations that she would replicate the repressive style of her predecessor, former President John Pombe Magufuli. Magufuli was an authoritarian figure who did not allow opposition groups to campaign except during election periods.
Still, many voters have grown disenchanted as authoritarian tendencies deepen under Hassan. Critics note that opposition parties permitted on the ballot have campaigned very little, with some opposition candidates even appearing to endorse Hassan.
### Virtually Unchallenged
Voters will choose from Hassan and 16 other contenders. Yet, two of her main opponents — Tundu Lissu of Chadema and Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo — are barred from running for president.
Lissu, a charismatic opposition leader, spent years in European exile after surviving an assassination attempt in 2017. He is now imprisoned on treason charges he claims are politically motivated. Meanwhile, police recently arrested John Heche, deputy leader of Chadema, while he was attending Lissu’s treason trial.
While her primary rivals remain jailed, Hassan has campaigned aggressively across the country, promising stability and prosperity, particularly for those working in agriculture. Her campaign slogan, “Work and Dignity,” emphasizes progress through continued effort.
CCM, which maintains ties with China’s Communist Party, retains a loyal following in some regions. However, its share of the popular vote has been declining as opposition groups press for change. Still, according to Nicodemus Minde, a Tanzanian researcher with the Institute for Security Studies — a South Africa-based think tank — CCM heads to the polls virtually unchallenged.
Voter turnout, which has been on the decline since 2010, is expected to be low, particularly as a CCM victory is widely assumed. “Voter apathy could be high due to the impact of the disqualification of the two main opposition parties,” Minde observed, warning that the election poses “a significant risk of strengthening authoritarian practices rather than advancing democratic governance.”
### Calls for Protests and Fear of Unrest
The disqualified opposition party Chadema insists there can be no legitimate popular vote without fundamental reforms to ensure a free and fair election. Some voters interviewed by The Associated Press expressed concerns about threats to peace tied to the elections, especially after authorities warned they would not tolerate disruptions from potential protests.
Many Tanzanians say they feel disappointed by repressive tactics, including arbitrary arrests and abductions carried out by unknown agents. Others worry the government might shut down internet access ahead of the vote.
“Peace must prevail for the election to run smoothly,” said Joshua Gerald, a resident of Dar es Salaam, the country’s commercial capital, who requested to withhold his last name for safety reasons. “Because, without peace, there can be chaos or fear, and people may fail to exercise their democratic rights.”
Noel Johnson, another young voter in Dar es Salaam, emphasized the need for constitutional rights protections. “The government needs to protect our constitutional rights, especially the right to demonstrate, because we are not satisfied by the ongoing electoral processes,” he said.
President Hassan has encouraged voters to turn out in large numbers, assuring that peace will be maintained. Nonetheless, concern over possible turmoil remains.
Richard Mbunda, a political scientist at the University of Dar es Salaam, told The Associated Press that growing public discontent could push the country toward instability. “There are clear signs of unrest,” Mbunda said.
He cautioned that even a seemingly stable country like Tanzania risks sliding into turmoil if political authorities appear indifferent. “The tone of reconciliation spoken about during campaigns should be genuine,” Mbunda added. “Dialogue is needed. The election is legally valid but lacks political legitimacy.”
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Muhumuza reported from Kampala, Uganda. Associated Press writers in Dodoma and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, contributed to this report.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/tanzania-goes-vote-elections-set-045907785.html
