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Twenty-four candidates have been cleared to contest various leadership positions in the upcoming general election of the Tanzania Olympic Committee (TOC), scheduled for April 12 in Dar es Salaam.
The announcement was made by the Election Committee after completing the initial vetting process of aspirants who submitted nomination forms to vie for different posts within the Olympic body.
Initially, 28 candidates collected and returned nomination forms. However, four were eliminated at the preliminary stage after failing to meet the eligibility criteria set by the committee.
Speaking on March 31, 2026, at the TOC offices in Dar es Salaam, the Secretary of the Election Committee, Abdulrahman Khamis Karume, said the candidates who advanced had met all requirements to participate in the election.
For the presidency, three candidates have been approved to contest the top seat. They are Henry Benny Tandau, Leonard Thadeo Katunzi and Hassan Khairalla Tawakal from Zanzibar.
The vice-presidential position has attracted only one candidate, Nasra Juma Mohamed, who was cleared by the committee after fulfilling all nomination conditions.
Twelve candidates were approved to contest committee membership representing Mainland Tanzania. They include Muharam Salum Mchume, Noolerain Gulam Hussein Shariff, Dr Devota John Marwa, Amina Mohamed Mfaume, Khalid Yahya Rushaka, Suma Stephen Mwaikenda, Noel Kiunsi, Abdulkher Mohamed Ahmed, Jonathan Mushumbusi Kassano, Innocent John Mallya, Andrew Godfrey Kapeleka and Eliasa Abdallah Mkongo.
Another eight candidates will compete for committee positions representing Zanzibar. They are Faida Salmin Juma, Makame Ali Machano, Thuwaiba Aboud Muhiddin, Mwatima Bakari Abdi, Suleiman Ame Khamis, Abdul Rahman Said Simai, Said Mohamed Abdulla and Juma Khamis Zaidy.
Karume said the electoral timetable will now move to the appeals stage, where candidates or stakeholders may file objections from April 1 to April 3.
The Appeals Committee will review and determine the objections between April 4 and April 6.
He added that the final screening of candidates will take place from April 7 to April 11 ahead of the official campaign period.
The election on April 12 is expected to usher in a new leadership team for the Tanzania Olympic Committee, which is responsible for overseeing Olympic sports development and coordinating the country’s participation in international competitions.
