Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, has been disqualified from participating in the upcoming general elections, just days after its leader Tundu Lissu was charged with treason. The country’s electoral commission said Chadema failed to sign a mandatory code of conduct by the Saturday deadline, resulting in an automatic ban from the October vote.
Ramadhani Kailima, director of elections at the Independent National Elections Commission, confirmed the move, stating that the party would also be barred from any by-elections until 2030. Chadema had earlier refused to participate in the signing ceremony, maintaining its position that electoral reforms are necessary before any credible vote can take place.
Lissu, who was seen as the main challenger to President Samia Suluhu Hassan, was arrested last week after a rally in southern Tanzania where he reiterated his call for reforms. His detention and subsequent treason charges have drawn sharp criticism from his lawyers and political observers, who claim the accusations are politically motivated. The case is scheduled to resume on April 24.
The ruling CCM party, in power since 1977, is widely expected to maintain its grip on leadership. Critics have accused President Hassan’s administration of tightening its control over the political space despite earlier signs of liberalization. Lissu himself survived an assassination attempt in 2017 and has faced repeated arrests since his return from exile. His slogan, “No Reforms, No Election,” continues to underscore his push for structural changes to Tanzania’s electoral process.
