Tanzania's Tense Elections 2025: Citizens Share Their Hopes and Fears

On Wednesday, October 29, 2025, Tanzanians head to the polls to cast their vote in the first full-term election under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who was previously the East African country’s vice-president, and is the first woman president after assuming office in 2021 following the death of her predecessor, John Magufuli.

Magufuli’s presidency left a complex legacy: he was hailed for ambitious infrastructure projects and a tough stance on corruption, but also criticized for authoritarian governance and the suppression of dissent. His imprint continues to shape Tanzania’s political landscape.

The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), which has been in power since independence in 1961, maintains a firm grip on government institutions nationwide. Meanwhile, opposition parties face persistent hurdles in registering candidates and mounting effective campaigns. As ballots are cast, many citizens are weighing whether this election will usher in meaningful change or reinforce the enduring status quo.

Tanzania's Tightening Grip: Crushing Dissent Online and Offline

Ahead of the election, the government has significantly intensified measures against opposition voices. Rights groups such as Amnesty International report that opposition leaders and civil society figures have faced arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and the denial of their right to contest the polls.

Digital spaces have not been spared either. Twitter (now X) and other social media platforms, where most young people express their grievances, have faced temporary restrictions during politically sensitive periods, especially around elections and protests, moves critics say stifle free expression and isolate Tanzanians from global conversations.

The country’s main opposition party, Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), was disqualified from participating after its president, Tundu Lissu, was arrested and charged with treason. In April, Tanzania’s electoral body, the Independent National Elections Commission (INEC), officially disqualified CHADEMA from running in the elections after the party refused to sign a mandatory code of conduct by the deadline.

According to The Citizen Tanzania, CHADEMA refused to sign, citing that it “contradicts the constitution and undermines political parties’ democratic rights.” The party also believed that the code of conduct is being manipulated in ways that entrench the ruling party’s dominance and restrict the democratic process. 

Fear and Silence Among Citizens: Tanzanians Speak Out (or Don’t)

OkayAfrica spoke to Tanzanians about what this election means to them, and whether they hold any hope or fear regarding this year’s vote.

Several young people approached for this story declined to be quoted, citing fear of retaliation or political backlash. Some were even wary of communicating on WhatsApp, afraid their messages or calls could be intercepted.

Among those willing to speak is a Dar es Salaam resident, 50, who asked to remain anonymous.

“My biggest hope is that this election will be conducted peacefully and that we’ll elect our leaders without protest or riots,” she tells OkayAfrica. “There are rumors that those who feel the election won’t be free and fair might protest instead of voting, and I fear the government’s response could make things worse. We need to maintain the peace we have. Whatever the result, I hope the winner will offer an olive branch and allow peace to prevail so that we can go back to normal.”

For others, like Shakanyi Wagora, 46, a logistics business owner, the election represents an opportunity to build on the stability that President Suluhu Hassan has brought to the country. From the start, Wagora makes it clear that he supports Hassan and believes in her leadership.

“I believe the president has done a great job since taking office,” Wagora said. “She’s brought calm after a difficult period and restored Tanzania’s image internationally. She’s tough, but some of us like that about her. As someone who works in logistics, I am very happy with the improvements in infrastructure and the opportunities Tanzania has to offer. Dar es Salaam now has a bus rapid transit system and other projects to be proud of. The government is building new roads that will make it easy for Tanzanians to move around. Once the election is over, it will be time to use all the opportunities availed to us as citizens.”

A View from an Activist: Speaking on Tanzania’s Authoritarian Grip

For Tito Magoti, 32, a human rights lawyer and activist who was himself detained by the Magufuli administration, the fear many Tanzanians feel today is not unfounded.

Magoti was abducted on December 20, 2019, and later formally charged on December 24, 2019, with “leading organized crime,” “possession of a computer program designed for the purpose of committing an offense,” and “money laundering.” All non-bailable charges under Tanzania’s Economic and Organized Crimes Control Act, Cyber Crimes Act, and Anti-Money Laundering Act. This meant that he would remain in custody until the trial was resolved. For Magoti, that was over a year.

He remained in Segerea Remand Prison, where his trial was adjourned 26 times before an agreement was eventually reached, a prolonged ordeal that drew condemnation from international rights organizations and underscored the government’s tightening grip on dissent.

Magoti walks out of a conference session to take the call from OkayAfrica and speaks with the resolute tone of a man who has nothing to lose.

“Many people are afraid to speak up because Tanzania is dealing with a serious case of authoritarianism,” Magoti said. “It’s a regime that is brutal toward alternative or critical opinions. People have been illegally arrested, detained, and even disappeared. Others have taken jail terms, and the government uses cyber laws to clamp down on critical voices.”

He described what he called a “climate of fear” ahead of the election, adding that the government’s control over political participation, the media, and public debate has deepened.

“The opposition is clamped down with its leadership under political lockdown,” he said. “The leader of the opposition, Tundu Lissu, is in jail on framed treason charges. Journalists face suspensions and fines for publishing stories critical of the regime. Many people no longer believe their votes will count because the electoral body only speaks to the ruling party’s wishes.”

Magoti also noted that some smaller parties contesting against CCM “are not genuine opposition.”

“Those are proxies,” he said. “They’ve done no political activity in years; they exist to give the illusion of competition and legitimacy to an election that is not democratic in nature.”

A Nation Holding Its Breath

As Tanzanians vote, the nation holds its breath. For some, President Samia Suluhu Hassan symbolizes stability and the promise of progress; for others, the weight of past repression and the exclusion of genuine opposition remains vivid. Yet amid the uncertainty, Tanzanians continue to live, work, and hope, quietly wishing that the election, whatever its outcome, will preserve peace, uphold dignity, and create openings for a future that includes every citizen. Across the country, that hope reverberates.