A Tanzanian police officer stops a man accused by electoral officials of attempting to taint the voting process at a polling station in Stone Town on October 29, 2025, during Tanzania’s presidential elections
Main opposition leaders jailed or disqualified as President Samia Suluhu Hassan seeks to tighten her grip on power.
Polling stations across Tanzania’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, were nearly deserted on Wednesday as citizens cast ballots in a tense election dominated by fear, intimidation, and state repression.
With opposition leaders jailed, disqualified, or silenced, President Samia Suluhu Hassan appears poised for an uncontested victory — but at a high cost to the nation’s democracy and political freedoms.
At several polling centers observed by AFP journalists, turnout remained extremely low even an hour after polls opened, a stark contrast to previous elections when long queues formed early in the day. Tanks and armed police patrolled the city, creating an atmosphere of fear rather than civic participation.
“We are going to mobilize people from the streets and their homes to come and vote,” said an official from the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party in Temeke District, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We need to rescue the situation because some are hesitating.”
But many Tanzanians appeared unwilling to risk their safety. Saada, a 40-year-old food vendor, told AFP she stayed home out of fear.
“I could not go out today because of fear of violence,” she said.
Climate of Fear
Rights groups have condemned what Amnesty International described as a “wave of terror” ahead of the polls, citing enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings of opposition figures and activists.
Hassan, 65, who assumed power in 2021 following the death of her predecessor John Magufuli, was initially hailed for easing restrictions on the press and opposition. But observers now say her government has reverted to Magufuli-era tactics, tightening control over political space and media freedom.
Human Rights Watch accused the government of “suppressing the political opposition and critics of the ruling party, stifling the media, and failing to ensure the independence of the electoral commission.”
The main opposition leader, Tundu Lissu, remains in prison on treason charges and faces a potential death sentence. His party, CHADEMA, has been barred from participating in the elections. Another credible challenger, Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo, was disqualified over technical issues widely seen as politically motivated.
Disappearances and Dissent
Even members of the ruling party have reportedly faced intimidation.
Former CCM spokesman and ambassador to Cuba, Humphrey Polepole, disappeared earlier this month after publicly criticizing President Hassan. His family later found bloodstains in his home.
The Tanganyika Law Society reports at least 83 abductions since Hassan took office, with an additional 20 in recent weeks. Analysts in Dar es Salaam say the president has “done nothing to dismantle Magufuli’s intelligence network,” which continues to monitor dissent with ruthless efficiency.
“We thought Magufuli was a blip and the 2020 elections were an abnormality,” said one political analyst who requested anonymity. “My worry is that this is the new normal.”
Economic Calm, Political Turmoil
Tanzania’s economy remains relatively stable, growing by 5.5 percent in 2024 according to the World Bank, buoyed by strong agriculture, tourism, and mining sectors. Hassan has promised massive infrastructure projects and universal health insurance to woo voters.
But beneath the economic calm lies a simmering discontent. Police confirmed arresting 17 people in Kagera region accused of plotting election-day unrest.
In Zanzibar, where there is traditionally greater political freedom, polls opened with moderate turnout — though most foreign journalists were barred from observing mainland voting.
At a recent campaign rally, Hassan assured voters of safety:
“We are well-prepared for security. Those who have failed to participate in the competition should not seek to disrupt our election.”
Yet, with opposition leaders behind bars, citizens too afraid to vote, and dissent ruthlessly crushed, critics say Hassan’s victory may be total — but hollow.
