Tanzania’s 2021 local government elections saw citizens cast their votes through the ballot box, marking a crucial moment for the country’s democratic institutions ahead of next year’s presidential election. With a population of about 31 million eligible to vote, the elections were aimed at electing more than 80,000 street and village leaders, positions that wield considerable power in the country.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s long-ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party faces strong opposition from opposition parties that boycotted the 2019 elections. Despite the president’s promises of free and fair elections, there were allegations of irregularities and repression ahead of the polls.
The main opposition party, Chadema, accused authorities of electoral fraud after thousands of its candidates were disqualified. A party spokesman said there had been “numerous irregularities,” including ballot stuffing.
Chadema has also deplored the deaths of three of its members on the eve of the election and the brief arrest of party leader Freeman Mbowe at a rally last weekend. The events have raised concerns about security and freedom of expression in Tanzania.
President Hassan took office following the sudden death in 2021 of her authoritarian predecessor, John Magufuli. She was initially praised for easing Magufuli’s restrictions on the opposition and the media. However, human rights groups and Western governments have criticized what they see as a return to repression ahead of Wednesday’s election.
Tanzania’s local elections have highlighted persistent challenges to democracy in the country and raised concerns about the transparency and integrity of the electoral process. It is essential that the Tanzanian government take steps to ensure free and fair elections, thereby ensuring the legitimacy and confidence of the Tanzanian people in their country’s democratic system.