SADC CALLS THE TANZANIAN ELECTION A SHAM!
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has issued its preliminary Electoral Observation Mission report on Tanzania’s sham and violent election, and it is scathing.
The Preliminary Statement on the 2025 Tanzanian General Election include the following key issues:
1. Intimidation and Uneven Political Environment.
Reports of abductions and arrests of opposition activists and leaders, including Tundu Lissu of CHADEMA and Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo.
Opposition members’ disqualifications created an uneven playing field and discouraged participation.
Some stakeholders said the “calm” environment was a result of covert intimidation and fear, not peace.
2. Restrictions on Electoral Justice.
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Article 41(7) of the Constitution bars courts from challenging presidential election results.
Article 74(12) prevents courts from reviewing the Electoral Commission’s actions.
Both provisions block transparency, accountability, and judicial recourse, which contradict SADC democratic principles.
3. Compromised Independence of the Electoral Commission.
The President, who is also the ruling party chairperson and a presidential candidate, appoints the election commissioners, raising doubts about their independence.
4. Internet Shutdown and Information Blackout.
The internet was cut off on election day, halting communication and preventing SEOM from gathering or transmitting data on polling, counting, and closing processes.
5. Harassment of Observers.
SEOM observers were interrogated by security forces, had passports temporarily seized, and were forced to delete photographs in Tanga.
Accreditation delays and missing introduction letters hindered their work.
6. Media Censorship and Lack of Freedom of Expression.
Censorship of online platforms and restrictions on media freedom were reported.
State-owned media overwhelmingly favoured the ruling party, while private media self-censored out of fear of losing licences.
7. Low Voter Turnout and Suspicious Voting Practices.
The mission recorded very low turnout across polling stations.
Some ballot boxes showed multiple stacked ballots, suggesting possible ballot stuffing.
8. Gender and Youth Marginalisation.
Only 3 of 17 presidential candidates were women.
Women and youth faced cultural, financial, and institutional barriers to meaningful participation.
9. Exclusion of Civil Society and Voter Education Groups.
Some established NGOs were denied accreditation for voter education.
Funding reductions and late accreditation announcements hurt civic education quality.
10. Security Overreach.
Heavy police presence, particularly in Dar es Salaam, sometimes outnumbered voters.
Reports of police firing guns in several regions (Mbeya, Dodoma, Arusha, Dar es Salaam).
11. Constitutional Limitations on Independent Candidates.
Laws prevent citizens who are not affiliated with political parties from running for office, restricting political choice and freedom of association.
12. Domestic Observers Largely Absent.
SEOM noted a lack of local election observers in most polling stations.
13. Delayed Report Publication.
The SEOM could not issue its statement within the usual two days due to security and communication challenges, underscoring the tense and repressive environment.
In conclusion, the SEOM determined that voters could not freely express their democratic will and that the 2025 Tanzanian elections fell short of SADC’s Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.
The observation team was led by the Right Honourable Richard Msowoya, former Speaker of Parliament of the Republic of Malawi."
SADC must act and end this madness once and once for all!
