Tanzania’s Main Opposition Party Barred from Elections Until 2030

• Apr 13, 2025

Tanzania’s top opposition party has been officially disqualified from taking part in the upcoming general elections. The country’s electoral commission announced that the party failed to meet a key requirement.

According to the electoral commission, the party did not sign the official code of conduct, a document all political parties are expected to endorse before participating in elections. This rule applies not just to general elections, but also to all by-elections scheduled through the year 2030.

“Any party that did not sign the code of conduct will not participate in the general election,” a representative from the electoral body said. He added that the restriction will remain in place for all by-elections until the end of the current election cycle in 2030.

The announcement is a major blow to Tanzania’s political opposition, which has long accused the government of restricting political freedoms and limiting democratic space. The disqualification of the leading opposition party is expected to reshape the country’s political landscape significantly, giving the ruling party an even greater advantage.

While the electoral commission has not provided additional details on the party’s failure to sign the code, political observers say the decision raises serious concerns about transparency and fairness in Tanzania’s electoral process.

The code of conduct is a document that outlines the responsibilities and expected behavior of political parties during campaigns and elections. Signing it is a standard requirement, and failure to do so is considered a serious breach of electoral procedures.

This move by the electoral commission has sparked criticism from democracy advocates and human rights groups, who argue that the ruling may silence alternative voices and reduce voter choices in upcoming elections.

There has been no immediate response from the disqualified party, but political tensions are expected to rise in the coming months as the country moves closer to the election period without one of its key opposition players.

As things stand, the electoral commission’s decision could have long-term consequences for Tanzania’s democracy, particularly with the opposition now sidelined from all elections until the end of the decade.