The High Court has thrust Tanzania’s electoral process into the spotlight after ordering a fast-tracked hearing of a petition filed by ACT-Wazalendo and former cabinet minister Luhaga Joelson Mpina against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney General.
The case, which challenges the legality of the nomination process for ACT-Wazalendo’s presidential candidate and running mate, was described by the court as a matter of “national and public interest.”
On Wednesday, a panel of three judges Justice Evaristo Longopa, Justice John Kahyoza, and Justice Abdi Kagomba ruled that the matter be determined within five days.
The judges dismissed a request by government lawyers for 28 days of written submissions, opting instead for a combination of written and oral arguments to ensure a swift resolution.
ACT-Wazalendo and Mpina must file their submissions by Friday, September 5, 2025, while INEC and the Attorney General have until Sunday, September 7, 2025, to respond.
Both sides will reconvene before the High Court on Monday, September 8, for further oral arguments if necessary.
Government lawyers had initially filed a preliminary objection during earlier proceedings on August 28, but later withdrew it, clearing the way for the judges to focus directly on the substantive constitutional and electoral issues raised in the petition.
Analysts say the ruling carries implications far beyond ACT-Wazalendo’s nomination dispute, noting that it could influence public trust in INEC’s management of the October elections.
For many voters, the case is shaping up as a test of accountability, transparency, and the balance of power between electoral institutions and political parties.
