Tanzania’s ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), has officially named President Samia Suluhu Hassan as its candidate for the October general elections.
The announcement came on Sunday after the party’s weekend assembly, solidifying Hassan’s bid to extend her leadership of the East African nation.
Hassan assumed office in 2021 following the sudden death of her predecessor, John Magufuli, whose rule was marked by authoritarian policies.
Initially celebrated for reversing some of Magufuli’s repressive measures, Hassan received praise for loosening media restrictions and engaging the opposition.
However, human rights groups and Western governments have since criticized her administration for renewed crackdowns on dissent.
The main opposition party, Chadema, has faced arrests of its politicians and alarming incidents of abductions and killings of opposition figures.
“We have achieved significant milestones, and I promise to deliver even more in the next term,” Hassan stated confidently.
She called for national unity ahead of the elections, warning against divisions that could emerge during the competitive political season.
Meanwhile, Dorothy Semu, leader of the Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT Wazalendo), has declared her intent to challenge Hassan.
Chadema has yet to select its candidate but plans to elect a new party president on Tuesday amid uncertainty about its participation in the polls.
The party has threatened to boycott the 2025 elections unless long-demanded electoral reforms are implemented, a call consistently dismissed by CCM.
As Tanzania braces for a heated political season, the October elections will test the nation’s commitment to democracy and unity.