Keypoints:
- Opposition leader Mpina disqualified again
- CHADEMA barred, Lissu remains jailed
- Samia faces only minor rivals in poll
TANZANIA’S Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has once more disqualified opposition presidential candidate Luhaga Mpina, reversing its own decision made just two days earlier to approve his nomination. The move, announced on Monday, effectively clears the way for President Samia Suluhu Hassan to seek re-election next month with only minor-party challengers.
Reversal after brief approval
INEC had briefly accepted Mpina’s nomination over the weekend, following a High Court ruling that overturned an earlier disqualification. Mpina, a former ruling-party lawmaker and leader of the country’s second-largest opposition party ACT-Wazalendo, was viewed as a significant contender against President Samia.
Shangwe Ayo, ACT-Wazalendo’s deputy spokesperson, condemned the latest reversal. ‘It is our hope the commission will drop all objections against our candidate so that he can proceed with the election campaigns in a bid to lead Tanzanians,’ Ayo said in a statement.
Main opposition absent from race
The electoral landscape has already been reshaped by the absence of the main opposition party, CHADEMA. The party was barred in April after refusing to sign the mandatory electoral code of conduct as part of its push for sweeping electoral reforms.
Its presidential candidate, Tundu Lissu, has been in detention for over five months on treason charges he denies. His arrest has further dampened prospects for a competitive poll.
Clear path for the president
With Mpina now disqualified for a second time and CHADEMA sidelined, analysts say the upcoming vote is likely to be a one-sided contest. President Samia, who succeeded the late John Magufuli in 2021, faces only candidates from smaller parties, making her path to a new term significantly easier.
The commission has not detailed the reasons for the latest decision, prompting fresh criticism from opposition figures and civil society groups concerned about the credibility of the electoral process.
