Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – October 29, 2025 – Millions of Tanzanians headed to the polls today, Wednesday, October 29, 2025, to participate in a crucial general election that will decide the nation’s next president, members of the National Assembly, and local councillors. The election, the first for incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan, is taking place under a cloud of controversy, with human rights organizations and political observers citing significant constraints on the democratic process.
A Highly Constrained Electoral Landscape
The political atmosphere leading up to the vote has been described as sharply polarized, with the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, which has governed Tanzania since independence, appearing largely unchallenged. A major development preceding election day was the disqualification of candidates from the two main opposition parties, Chadema and ACT-Wazalendo. This move has led analysts to suggest that this election may be "arguably the least competitive" since the reintroduction of multiparty politics in 1992.
President Hassan, who assumed office in 2021 following the death of her predecessor, is seeking her first full term. Her campaign has focused on achievements in infrastructure, education, and maintaining national stability. However, the run-up to the polls has been marred by reports of repression. Critics of the government, including political opponents, have allegedly faced abduction, arrest, or worse, while opposition gatherings have reportedly been banned.
Electoral Oversight and International Scrutiny
The elections are being managed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which reported that over 37 million voters were registered nationwide, an increase from the 2020 figures. While civil society groups reportedly praised improvements in the use of biometric voter verification, concerns persist regarding uneven access to voter education and allegations of partisan influence within the electoral administration.
The conditions surrounding the vote have drawn sharp criticism. Observers have noted that the absence of robust international observer missions could negatively impact transparency and public confidence in the eventual outcome. Despite these concerns, regional bodies, including SADC and EAC, deployed election observation missions ahead of the polls, with delegations arriving in the days immediately preceding the vote.
Furthermore, the electoral framework itself has been subject to debate. New electoral laws introduced in 2024 were touted by supporters as measures to streamline procedures, but critics argued they maintained the ruling party's influence over the electoral commission and failed to guarantee a truly level playing field.
CCM’s Dominance and Historical Context
The CCM and its predecessor have a long history of electoral success, with the previous presidential election in 2020 seeing the late President Magufuli secure a decisive victory with 84.4% of the vote. The current political landscape, lacking significant competition due to the exclusion of major opposition figures, strongly favors the continuation of CCM rule. The party benefits from a decades-old, nationwide machinery that has entrenched its power since Tanzania’s independence.
The narrative of this election is less about a competitive contest and more about the ruling party’s consolidation of power under a new leader facing her first electoral test. The focus for many international observers remains fixed on the integrity of the process and the government's response to civil society demands for a more open political space. The results, when declared, will be viewed through the lens of the reported restrictions and the lack of a fully contested field. The world watches to see how President Hassan navigates the mandate she seeks amidst these significant democratic challenges. The global political community will be keenly observing the aftermath for signs of stability or further political tension. This election is a critical barometer for the state of democracy in East Africa.