CCM Secretary General Dr. Emmanuel Nchimbi. Photo: Courtesy
By Adonis Byemelwa
Dar es Salaam — As Tanzania gears up for the local government elections, heated debates have erupted regarding the fairness and integrity of the nomination and registration processes. Leaders from various political and civic organizations have voiced concerns, each urging reforms to uphold democracy, transparency, and the principles of fair representation.
In a recent statement, Bishop Benson Bagonza of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) criticized aspects of the electoral process, warning that true democracy requires that both winning and losing be determined by voters, not procedural technicalities or selective disqualifications.
He emphasized that the electoral body must act impartially, advising election officials to set aside personal biases and ensure transparency. Bishop Bagonza also reminded leaders of the long-term impact of electoral integrity, stressing that “our nation’s soul is rooted in justice,” and neglecting this could harm both citizens and leaders alike.
Echoing calls for transparency, the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) has requested leniency for candidates disqualified over what it described as minor errors in their nomination forms.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, CCM Secretary General Dr. Emmanuel Nchimbi, speaking on behalf of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, appealed to the Ministry of Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG) to reconsider these minor disqualifications. “Our democracy is in its infancy, and learning takes time,” Nchimbi remarked, emphasizing the importance of allowing as many qualified candidates as possible to participate.
However, Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) leaders, including Vice Chair Tundu Lissu, have expressed misgivings about the procedures. Lissu and others from Chadema argue that the existing nomination process disproportionately favors ruling party candidates, raising concerns about equitable access to candidacy.
Minister of State for Regional Administration and Local Government, Mohamed Mchengerwa, addressed these concerns by urging dissatisfied candidates to file official objections by November 10, following legal protocols established in Government Notices No. 571, 573, 574, and 572 from July 12, 2024.
Mchengerwa highlighted that Assistant Returning Officers are required to publicly post lists of qualified and disqualified candidates, allowing public scrutiny of the decisions.
Concerns over the electoral roll have also emerged, with Chadema’s Director of Communication, ideology, and External Relations, John Mrema, presenting evidence that minors are being registered to vote.
Mrema cited multiple instances where individuals with birth years listed as 2005 and 2006 appeared on the roll, sparking outrage over the lack of integrity in voter registration. “It is utterly unacceptable for minors to be registered under identical birthdates.
This not only undermines democracy but fundamentally distorts the electoral process,” he stated, warning that the registration of minors creates an environment that fosters dishonesty and threatens the principles of representative governance.
Further accusations from Chadema suggest potential bias in registration practices. According to Mrema, some registration centers were reportedly set up in the homes of CCM members, raising significant ethical and regulatory concerns. He argued that these actions undermine public trust and violate the electoral framework intended to maintain neutrality and fairness across all political parties.
Tanzania’s election season has become increasingly contentious, with fresh allegations of procedural bias intensifying the scrutiny of the country’s democratic processes.
In Shinyanga, Chadema’s Regional Secretary Sebastian Polepole has publicly condemned what he described as the unwarranted disqualification of Chadema candidates from the local elections, calling it “a blatant act of bias.”
According to Polepole, Chadema took stringent measures to ensure all candidate forms were filled out accurately, making the wave of disqualifications appear, in his words, “highly suspect.”
The disqualifications are stirring discontent among opposition candidates, many of whom claim they were removed on questionable grounds.
Mkasha John Emmanuel, one of the disqualified Chadema candidates, reported that his exclusion was justified by allegedly missing information about the ward he intended to represent—despite the application specifying it.
Emmanuel was further accused of listing an age that reportedly did not match the voter registry, casting additional doubt on the grounds for his disqualification.
Candidate nominations were finalized on November 8, with a narrow window for appeals closing on November 13. Minister of State for Regional Administration and Local Government, Mohamed Mchengerwa, has encouraged any aggrieved candidates to formally challenge their disqualification by the deadline.
Yet with mounting frustrations, Chadema’s leadership warns that these dismissals could erode public trust in the democratic process. As the November 13 deadline for appeals looms, the stakes for Tanzania’s electoral integrity grow higher, with many questioning if this year’s local elections will be remembered for transparency—or controversy.
