Tanzania’s main opposition party, CHADEMA, has been officially disqualified from participating in the upcoming general elections, a senior official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed on Saturday.
According to INEC Director of Elections Ramadhani Kailima, the party failed to meet a critical requirement by not signing the mandatory code of conduct agreement before the official deadline. “Any party that did not sign the code of conduct will not participate in the general election,” Kailima stated. He further noted that the disqualification also applies to all by-elections through to the year 2030.
The development comes amid escalating political tensions following the recent arrest and prosecution of CHADEMA leader Tundu Lissu, who faces treason charges. Authorities allege that Lissu attempted to incite rebellion with the aim of disrupting the electoral process. If convicted, he could face the death penalty. He was not permitted to enter a plea during his initial court appearance at the Kisutu Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam, where he appeared in good spirits alongside his legal team and party officials.
Lissu, who was arrested late Wednesday night after addressing a rally in Mbinga—more than 1,000 kilometers from the capital—has been an outspoken critic of the current electoral framework. His arrest followed a call for comprehensive electoral reforms aimed at ensuring a free and fair vote in the upcoming October polls. Footage from the arrest shows Lissu resisting police efforts to detain him, stating, “We will sleep here. What is the problem?” before police used tear gas to disperse his supporters.
CHADEMA had earlier announced a boycott of the electoral code of conduct signing ceremony, citing what it describes as a fundamentally flawed and biased electoral system designed to favor the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party. The party has yet to issue an official response to its disqualification.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration has denied allegations of suppressing opposition voices, asserting that the government is committed to upholding democratic principles and human rights. However, human rights groups have accused the government of increasingly authoritarian behavior, pointing to the arrest of opposition figures and restrictions on political activities.
Tundu Lissu, a former Member of Parliament and prominent opposition figure, previously survived an assassination attempt in 2017 when he was shot 16 times by unknown assailants. He has since remained a central figure in Tanzania’s pro-democracy movement.
Tanzania is scheduled to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in October. The CCM party, in power since the country’s independence in 1961, is widely expected to maintain its political dominance amid growing concerns over political pluralism and electoral transparency.
