The Presidential Commission of Inquiry into incidents of unrest during and after the October 29, 2025 General Election has moved to clear doubts over its legitimacy, stating that its existence and work were upheld by the High Court of Tanzania.
Commission member Prof. Ibrahim Juma told journalists in Dar es Salaam that the court delivered a decisive ruling confirming that the President acted within constitutional powers in establishing the commission.
The clarification follows months of public debate and legal challenges questioning the legality of the body tasked with investigating incidents linked to the 2025 polls.
“In Civil Case No. 12 of 2025, the High Court made it clear that the President has constitutional authority to form commissions of inquiry, and that this particular commission was established in line with the Commissions of Inquiry Act, Chapter 32,” Prof Juma said.
He noted that the case had been filed by individuals seeking to block the commission’s operations, but the court dismissed the objections and affirmed both its mandate and the validity of its findings.
“The court was explicit that the commission is lawful, its work is lawful, and the evidence it collected is valid,” he said.
According to Prof Juma, the ruling provided a crucial legal foundation that enabled the commission to summon and question a broad range of stakeholders without fear, including regional commissioners, police commanders, political leaders and tens of thousands of citizens.
More than 63,000 wananchi participated in the inquiry process, reflecting the scale of the investigation and the level of public engagement.
The commission submitted its report to President Samia Suluhu Hassan on April 23, 2026, concluding its mandate at a time when attention now shifts to implementation.
Prof Juma emphasised that the credibility of the report is anchored not only in its submission to the Head of State, but also in the judicial endorsement that confirmed the commission’s legality.
“The remaining task is for Tanzanians to read the report, engage with its findings, and for relevant institutions to take appropriate action,” he said.
