Tanzania went to the polls on Wednesday in an election shadowed by fear and silence, with opposition figures jailed, disqualified, or in hiding. Rights groups say the vote marks a grim turning point for the East African nation once praised for its relative stability.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, 65, is widely expected to secure another term. Her critics, however, say she is doing so in the absence of real competition.
Hassan, who became Tanzania’s first female president after the 2021 death of her predecessor John Magufuli, initially drew praise for opening political space and easing restrictions on the media. But rights organizations say those early reforms have all but vanished.
Among those silenced is Tundu Lissu, a fiery opposition leader once seen as Hassan’s strongest challenger. He now faces a treason trial that could carry the death penalty. His party, Chadema, has been banned from fielding candidates. Another contender, Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo, was disqualified over what officials called “technical issues.”
Foreign journalists have been barred from observing the mainland vote, while AFP reporters stationed in Zanzibar described long queues and a palpable sense of uncertainty. Analysts say the semi-autonomous island is likely to see a tighter race.
Meanwhile, disappearances have deepened the sense of dread. The Tanganyika Law Society says it has confirmed 83 abductions since Hassan took office, with at least 20 more in recent weeks. Among the missing is Humphrey Polepole, a former ruling party spokesman who vanished from his home this month after publicly criticising the president. His family reportedly found blood stains in his house.
Analysts say Hassan inherited a powerful intelligence apparatus built under Magufuli and has done little to rein it in.
“We thought the 2020 elections were an anomaly,” said one observer. “Now it looks like this is the new normal.”
Despite the political tension, Tanzania’s economy has remained resilient. The World Bank reported 5.5 percent growth last year, driven by agriculture, tourism, and mining. Hassan has promised major infrastructure projects and universal health insurance as centrepieces of her campaign.
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