Tanzania bans opposition party from fighting polls

Tanzania’s election commission had disqualified the main opposition party from contesting the national elections due later this year. The reason cited was that CHADEMA, the opposition party, did not sign the code document by Saturday.

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Also, the leader of CHADEMA, Tindu Lissu, has been charged with treason because he asked the people while addressing a rally that they should not take part in the elections because the government is not carrying out the electoral reforms which would make the elections a fair process.

The opposition believes that the electoral process as it exists now favours the party in power. Ramadhani Kailima, director of elections at the Independent National Elections Commission, said, “Any party that did not sign the code of conduct will not participate in the general election.” He also said the ban would extend to by-elections to be held till 2030. President Samia Suluhu Hassan is accused of cracking down on the political opposition, which she denies.

The rights groups and the opposition have pointed to a series of abductions and killings as evidence of the government's crackdown ‘on dissidents. The government has opened investigations into the killings and kidnappings. Hassan’s ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), says it respects human rights.