The decision has sparked growing concerns about the political climate in Tanzania, where the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, in power since 1977, is now expected to retain control in the upcoming vote.

According to Ramadhani Kailima, the Director of Elections at Tanzania’s Independent National Elections Commission , Chadema was disqualified after failing to submit a required code of conduct document by Saturday’s deadline. Without signing the document, the party was formally barred from contesting the October elections.

This move follows the dramatic arrest of Chadema’s leader, Tundu Lissu, last week. Lissu was charged with treason after making a speech at a rally in southern Tanzania, where he called for sweeping electoral reforms. His arrest has been met with widespread criticism, with many viewing it as part of a broader crackdown on opposition voices in the country.

Chadema, one of Tanzania’s longest-standing opposition parties, has often been critical of the ruling CCM. The party’s exclusion from the election, combined with Lissu’s detention, has raised fears about the shrinking space for political opposition and the erosion of democratic freedoms in Tanzania.

With Chadema out of the race, the CCM party, led by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, is expected to hold on to power. The move leaves the opposition fragmented, and political analysts predict it will make it even harder for challengers to mount a serious challenge to the ruling party in the October election.

Observers have raised serious concerns about the fairness of the election process, especially with the opposition largely sidelined. There are growing calls from Tanzanians and international communities alike for more transparency and a fairer political environment, ensuring the elections reflect the will of the people rather than the ruling party’s dominance.

--ChannelAfrica--