Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan is poised to retain power in Wednesday's general election, with opposition parties barred from participation due to government repression and crackdowns on dissent.
Hassan's administration has been accused of undoing some of her predecessor John Magufuli's authoritarian policies, only to re-impose them later, sparking widespread criticism. Despite initial hopes for lasting change, Hassan's rule has seen a grim return to repression.
Critics say the country's election is now "arguably the least competitive" since multiparty politics were reintroduced in 1992, with opposition leaders facing legal harassment and civic space severely curtailed.
In the run-up to the election, authorities have arrested numerous activists and critics, including former CCM insider Humphrey Polepole. A UN report recorded over 200 cases of enforced disappearance in Tanzania since 2019.
Hassan's administration has pointed to economic growth and low inflation as plaudits for her rule, but critics argue that these achievements are built on a repressive foundation.
The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party has long dominated Tanzanian politics, making it one of the longest-ruling forces in Africa. Analysts warn that Hassan's opponents lack the resources and recognition to compete with CCM's well-oiled machinery.
Despite this, some observers see glimmers of hope for change. Salum Mwalimu, a running mate of Lissu during the 2000 presidential election, has been allowed to run for the Chaumma party. His campaign promises include reforms to government systems and delivering a new constitution.
However, the odds are stacked against Hassan's opponents. In the last presidential election in 2020, Magufuli won with 84.4% of the vote, while Lissu secured just 13.04%. With over 37 million people eligible to vote, the election will be a significant test of CCM's hold on power.
Hassan's administration has been accused of undoing some of her predecessor John Magufuli's authoritarian policies, only to re-impose them later, sparking widespread criticism. Despite initial hopes for lasting change, Hassan's rule has seen a grim return to repression.
Critics say the country's election is now "arguably the least competitive" since multiparty politics were reintroduced in 1992, with opposition leaders facing legal harassment and civic space severely curtailed.
In the run-up to the election, authorities have arrested numerous activists and critics, including former CCM insider Humphrey Polepole. A UN report recorded over 200 cases of enforced disappearance in Tanzania since 2019.
Hassan's administration has pointed to economic growth and low inflation as plaudits for her rule, but critics argue that these achievements are built on a repressive foundation.
The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party has long dominated Tanzanian politics, making it one of the longest-ruling forces in Africa. Analysts warn that Hassan's opponents lack the resources and recognition to compete with CCM's well-oiled machinery.
Despite this, some observers see glimmers of hope for change. Salum Mwalimu, a running mate of Lissu during the 2000 presidential election, has been allowed to run for the Chaumma party. His campaign promises include reforms to government systems and delivering a new constitution.
However, the odds are stacked against Hassan's opponents. In the last presidential election in 2020, Magufuli won with 84.4% of the vote, while Lissu secured just 13.04%. With over 37 million people eligible to vote, the election will be a significant test of CCM's hold on power.
. It seems like the government is trying to silence all opposition and limit civic space for activists and critics. I mean, arresting someone just because they're speaking out against the regime? That's not democracy, that's authoritarianism 
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. Has he actually been allowed to implement any real change in the past? I doubt it.
. That's not okay. The government needs to take responsibility for their actions and let the people decide, not just impose another authoritarian regime 
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and i don't care what the haters say. i think her admin has done some amazing things for the country, especially with that economic growth thingy 
. sure, there are some issues here and there, but i'm all about giving her a chance to make it right 
. and can we talk about how low-key cool her running mate Salum Mwalimu is? 
he's like the underdog who's gonna bring about change 
. let's just support Samia Suluhu all the way, fam 
. It's like they're trying to recreate the same old system that Magufuli had in place. I mean, what's the point of even having an opposition if you're just gonna crack down on them? 
The numbers are mind-boggling - 200 cases of enforced disappearance since 2019? That's just crazy! And to think they're trying to spin it as economic growth and low inflation... yeah right 
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. I mean, it seems like the government has cracked down super hard on opposition parties and activists, which isn't exactly democratic 
. It's kinda surprising that Hassan is still expected to win with such little competition 
. I think it's fair to say that Tanzania's election right now is pretty much a sham 
. And honestly, it's hard to see how anyone else can challenge CCM's hold on power without some serious resources 
and i just can't believe they're making it basically impossible for opposing parties to compete 
it's just such a shame cuz samia suluhu hassan seems nice but all this repression is just so wrong 
i mean i guess some ppl r still holdin out hope 4 change like salum mwalimu and lissu seem like they might b able to bring about some reforms 
. I've been following the news and it seems like they're just trying to silence opposition leaders and activists. Like, what even is the point of having an election if people can't even run or express their opinions? 
. I just want to see some real change for once, you know? It feels like they're just going through the motions and pretending that everything is okay when it's not 
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. It's gonna be a tough fight, but I'll be rooting for them anyway 
. It seems like everyone's getting scared off from running against Hassan because of the restrictions 
. I'm not surprised analysts say opponents have no chance, but what about Salum Mwalimu's campaign promises? isn't it time for some real change in that country? 
. Those achievements are basically built on a foundation of repression and human rights abuses. I'm so over this authoritarian stuff - can't we just have some real democracy for once?
. It's like, good luck to anyone who wants to challenge the status quo in Tanzania right now.
. the whole point of multiparty politics is supposed to be competition, but not when one side's got a stranglehold on resources & media like ccm does 
. maybe some ppl think salum mwalimu's campaign promises are legit 
. all in all, i'm callin' it - samia suluhu hassan's gonna hold on to power and the status quo will remain intact 
The only thing I'm curious about is what kinda reforms Salum Mwalimu's actually planning to push through, 'cause if he's just gonna repeat CCM's tired talking points, then it's more of the same old, same old. 
Still, gotta give props to the guy for at least having the guts to throw his hat in... 
. I guess Salum Mwalimu's little rebellion might be cute, but it's hard to see how that's gonna make a dent... yet 
... Tanzania is basically a dictatorship at this point and nobody's surprised that Samia Suluhu Hassan is gonna win with zero opposition. I mean, what are these opposition parties even doing? You're not gonna change anything with 200 cases of enforced disappearance under your belt 
. The CCM party has been in power for ages because they know how to play the game. And let's be real, who needs reform when you've got a strong leader like Samia Hassan, right? 
. and yeah i know the economy is looking good but that's only 'cause of all the repression they've been doing 
. The critics are right, it's one of the least competitive elections ever... how can you expect change when there's no real opposition? 
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