Tanzania - August 2025

On 27 August, Tanzania’s electoral commission (Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC) barred Luhaga Mpina, presidential nominee of ACT-Wazalendo—the country’s second-largest opposition party—from contesting the 29 October election, citing alleged irregularities in his party’s internal nomination procedure. INEC confirmed 17 presidential candidates, including President Samia Suluhu Hassan, but excluded Mpina. In April, INEC also disqualified Chadema (Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo), the leading opposition party. ACT-Wazalendo has launched a legal challenge, arguing Mpina had completed all procedures lawfully. His disqualification follows his defection from the ruling CCM and highlights growing concerns over the independence of Tanzania’s electoral institutions ahead of a vote now lacking major opposition contenders.

Update: On 11 September, the High Court overturned the electoral commission’s disqualification of Luhaga Mpina, but INEC barred him again four days later, following a complaint by the Attorney General alleging that Mpina had not been properly endorsed by ACT-Wazalendo. Mpina and ACT-Wazalendo have launched a second legal challenge, with hearings due in early October. Mpina’s definitive exclusion would all but ensure a landslide victory for the ruling CCM in the October election, according to political analysts.

Sources: Independent National Electoral Commission (1), Independent National Electoral Commission (2), The Citizen, Reuters, International Crisis Group (1), International IDEA, International Crisis Group (2)