Opposition parties in urban strongholds are gearing up to challenge CCM in the 2024 local elections. Photo: Courtesy
By Lugete Mussa Lugete
In
November 2019, Tanzanians went to the polls in a local government election that
quickly became one of the most contentious in the nation’s recent history. With
accusations of unfair practices and opposition parties facing significant
obstacles, the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party secured an overwhelming
victory, raising concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.
The
numbers tell the story. Minister of State in the President's Office for
Regional Administration and Local Government, Hon. Selemani Jafo, announced the
stunning results: CCM won 99.9% of the 12,260 villages, 100% of the 4,263
streets, and 99.4% of the 63,970 hamlets. These figures highlighted the
near-total dominance of CCM, leaving opposition parties with only a handful of
seats across the country.
Hon.
Jafo’s report revealed the scale of the election. A total of 332,160 positions
were contested, including those for village, hamlet, and street chairpersons,
as well as representatives for women and mixed groups. Out of 555,036 citizens
who collected nomination forms, 539,993 returned them—a return rate of 97.3%.
However, the outcome was lopsided, with CCM candidates running unopposed in
316,474 positions.
This
overwhelming victory, particularly in regions like Tanga, Katavi, Ruvuma, and
Njombe where all candidates were unopposed, raised alarms about the fairness of
the election. Opposition parties like Chadema, CUF, and ACT Wazalendo secured
only a handful of positions, further fueling suspicions of electoral
misconduct.
As
Tanzania prepares for the 2024 local government elections, the shadow of 2019
looms large. The government is being urged to address the complaints that arose
from the previous election to avoid a repeat of the same issues. Fairness,
transparency, and impartiality are the watchwords as the National Electoral
Commission faces the daunting task of restoring public confidence in the
electoral process.
Opposition
parties, particularly in urban areas like Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Arusha,
Kilimanjaro, Mbeya, Lindi, Mtwara, and Zanzibar, are gearing up for a strong
challenge against CCM. These regions, known for their political activism, are
expected to be hotbeds of opposition activity, and the outcome could be
markedly different if the election is conducted fairly.
The
call for reform is loud and clear. There is a growing demand for the newly
proposed election laws to be implemented, removing the oversight of local
elections from the Office of Regional Administration and Local Government.
Instead, many are calling for an independent body to ensure that the elections
meet international standards of freedom and justice.
President
Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration has a crucial role to play. If her
government is genuinely committed to political reconciliation, this must be
reflected in a fair and transparent electoral process. The 2024 local elections
will be a litmus test for Tanzania’s democracy and could set the tone for the
national general elections in 2025.
As
the nation approaches this critical juncture, the wounds of the 2019 elections
remain fresh. The path to healing lies in ensuring that the upcoming elections
are a true reflection of the people’s will—a fair and open contest that
restores faith in Tanzania’s democratic institutions.
