Tanzanians went to the polls Wednesday as incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan faced a weakened opposition landscape.
Her main rivals were barred from running, leaving smaller parties to challenge Hassan, whose party, CCM, has dominated since 1961.
Amnesty International warned of an atmosphere marked by fear, citing enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and extrajudicial killings ahead of the vote.
Hassan’s leading opponent, Tundu Lissu of Chadema, remains jailed on treason charges after calling for electoral reforms, while ACT-Wazalendo’s candidate was barred.
Hassan seeks her first full term after completing John Pombe Magufuli’s term following his sudden death in 2021.
She campaigned under “Work and Dignity,” pledging to expand agriculture and livestock opportunities, central to Tanzania’s economy and social stability.
Her vision emphasises the “Four Rs”: reconciliation, reforms, rebuilding, and resilience, aiming to frame her leadership as transformative and steady.
Tanzania boasts over 37 million registered voters, a 26% increase since 2020, though analysts predict low turnout amid perceptions of a predetermined outcome.
Opposition voices warn the election is more theatre than contest, with Martha Karua calling it “drama” rather than a genuine democratic process.
The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee condemned arrests and intimidation, warning they could make the election the least competitive since 1992.
Analysts say Hassan initially inspired hope with reforms but later oversaw increased repression, raising doubts about democratic legitimacy in the country.
Observers fear international criticism may bring sanctions or isolation, while domestically, political exclusion risks protests and heightened divisions. Chadema has urged citizens to protest on election day, highlighting growing frustration with a process seen as stacked in favour of the incumbent.