Tanzania’s main opposition party, CHADEMA, has been disqualified from participating in the October 2025 general elections, sparking widespread criticism and raising concerns over the country’s democratic process. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the decision on Tuesday, accusing CHADEMA of violating electoral law by refusing to sign a mandatory code of ethics during a multi-party event held on Saturday. According to INEC director Ramadhani Kailima, failure to sign the pledge legally disqualifies a party from contesting the polls.
CHADEMA, however, has rejected the disqualification, calling it unconstitutional and politically motivated. The party’s legal secretary, Regemeleza Nshala, argued that the law provides for penalties or fines, but does not authorize exclusion from elections. The party insists its boycott of the code-signing ceremony was a protest against the lack of meaningful electoral reforms. The dispute comes just days after CHADEMA leader Tundu Lissu was charged with treason following his arrest at a rally in the southern town of Mbinga, more than 1,000 kilometers from Dar es Salaam. Lissu had called for urgent electoral changes, accusing the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party of manipulating the process to remain in power.
If the ban stands, President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the CCM — which has governed since independence — will face little to no opposition in the upcoming polls. Human rights organizations and democracy advocates have condemned the government’s escalating crackdown, accusing it of using the legal system to silence dissent. The government maintains it is simply upholding the rule of law.
This marks another flashpoint in Tanzania’s tense political landscape, as critics warn the election could lack legitimacy without a competitive field.
