The Tanzanian government’s recent crackdown on political dissent has raised serious alarms about the integrity of the upcoming general elections scheduled for October 29, 2025. Human Rights Watch has expressed deep concerns regarding the government’s aggressive suppression of political opposition, attacks on criticism of the ruling party, and the undermining of media freedoms, all of which threaten to compromise the fairness of the electoral process.
“Tanzania’s authorities should take immediate measures to protect the integrity of the October elections, which are currently at great risk,” stated Nomathamsanqa Masiko-Mpaka, an Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. The organization emphasizes the urgent need for the government to cease its repression of dissenting voices and media outlets, and to instead implement meaningful reforms that will ensure free, fair, and credible elections.
From July to September 2025, Human Rights Watch conducted interviews with 24 civil society activists, lawyers, religious leaders, academics, journalists, and opposition party members, including eight individuals who have experienced various forms of abuse. The organization reached out to the Tanzanian Police Force, Independent National Electoral Commission, Communications Regulatory Authority, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 19 to present their findings and request information about reported abuses, but has yet to receive a response.
A religious leader, who reported being assaulted for his activism, conveyed the precarious state of dissenting opinions in Tanzania: “The right to life of people who have different opinions from the government is endangered. People should be able to criticize the government. It should not endanger their lives.” He further noted the troubling prevalence of abductions, disappearances, and unexplained killings, without any accountability from the government.
Human Rights Watch documented ten instances of politically motivated assaults, harassment, abduction, and torture, compounded by the extensive restrictions placed on traditional and social media. In one alarming case from May 2, prominent opposition activist Mpaluka Nyagali, also known as Mdude, was beaten and abducted from his home in Mbeya, with his current whereabouts still unknown despite a habeas corpus petition filed by his wife being dismissed by the Mbeya High Court.
On June 16, in Dar es Salaam, a government critic named Japhet Matarra was brutally attacked by unidentified assailants, suffering severe injuries that left him struggling to speak even a month later. Human Rights Watch corroborated these findings with evidence from Tanzanian human rights organizations, which documented about 100 cases of abductions and enforced disappearances since 2015.
In response to the alarming uptick in disappearances, the police issued a statement in June suggesting that some individuals had orchestrated their own kidnappings, a claim that notably omitted high-profile opposition and civil society members. This has only intensified public skepticism regarding the credibility of government investigations.
The government has continued to systematically repress opposition parties and their members. Tundu Lissu, leader of the main opposition party Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), was arrested during a rally in April and faces a trial on politically motivated charges that include treason, a non-bailable offense that carries the death penalty. Reports indicate that party officials and supporters have faced harassment when attempting to attend court sessions.
Another opposition party member expressed their fear for safety, stating, “I don’t feel safe being a politician in Tanzania. I don’t feel free to criticize the government … [W]e find ourselves under constant attack by the police.”
Despite the name, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) operates under the authority of the president, with its decisions unchallengeable in court. The commission barred Chadema from participating in the elections for not signing a controversial electoral code of conduct, while also suspending Chadema’s political activities over an unrelated dispute. The commission has also blocked the nomination of opposition candidate Luhaga Mpina from the Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT-Wazalendo), further limiting electoral competition.
President Samia Suluhu’s administration has pledged to uphold human rights and democratic principles at the United Nations Human Rights Council, but has yet to enact the necessary reforms to ensure a fair electoral process. The disqualifications and restrictions imposed on opposition parties raise serious questions about whether the elections will genuinely reflect the will of the Tanzanian people.
The media landscape in Tanzania is also under severe strain, with authorities cracking down on freedom of expression and information. A series of laws have granted the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority broad powers to suspend media outlets for vaguely defined infractions. Notably, in October 2024, the licenses of three leading newspapers were suspended for reporting on rising abductions, while over 80,000 online platforms were shut down for purportedly publishing harmful content.
The government has blocked access to social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), and has taken action against media outlets that challenge its narratives. Journalists have reported receiving threats and pressure to remove content critical of the government, creating a chilling environment for independent journalism.
The situation is particularly dire in Zanzibar, where opposition officials have reported that thousands of voters have been unable to obtain the necessary identity cards for voter registration. This systemic barrier disproportionately affects those perceived as potential opposition supporters, illustrating the lengths to which the government will go to stifle dissent.
Human Rights Watch concludes that the ongoing repression of political opposition, the lack of independence of the electoral commission, and the restrictions on media all point toward a troubling pre-election landscape in Tanzania. As the country approaches the 2025 elections, the urgent need for the government to halt its oppressive tactics and ensure a truly democratic process has never been more critical.
