Electoral observers of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have condemned the electoral process and outcome of the recently concluded elections in Tanzania.
The recent general elections, which were marred by censorship and voter intimidation, have not been carried out as per the dictates of democratic principles, the SADC observer mission has reported.
In a report issued to the regional body, observers revealed that the electoral process was riddled with suppression of voter rights and that the environment in which the elections were conducted was fraught with irregularities.
“In view of the Mission observations as detailed above, and mindful of the preliminary nature of this statement, it is the SEOM’s tentative conclusion that, in most areas, voters could not express their democratic will. Overall, the 2025 General Election in the United Republic of Tanzania fell short of the requirements of the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections,” observers reported.
The Mission further noted that some stakeholders were reluctant to share information, with reports of some observers facing harassment from local authorities.
“Despite carrying their Accreditation Identification Cards, our observers in Tanga Town were subjected to aggressive interrogation by the security forces, had their official documents, including their passports, seizedthough later returned, and were forced to delete mission-related photographs from their official gadgets,” the report stated.
The findings form part of a broader criticism of Tanzania’s 2025 general elections, held on 29 October, in which incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner with over 97 percent of the vote.
The landslide victory came amid reports that key opposition figures were barred from contesting and that the pre-election period was marked by intimidation, arrests, and strict media controls. Several international observer missions, including the European Union and the Commonwealth, echoed similar concerns, citing widespread irregularities, a lack of transparency, and the suppression of dissent.
For many observers, the SADC statement marks one of the most direct condemnations the regional bloc has issued in recent years against a member state. Traditionally known for cautious diplomacy, SADC’s declaration that the Tanzanian election “fell short” of its democratic standards underscores growing regional concern about the erosion of electoral integrity in Southern Africa.
“Related to the political and security environment, the Mission noted concerns that there were increasing covert and overt limitations on the right to freedom of expression. It was also the view of these stakeholders that there is heavy censorship of online information platforms. The Mission observed that some social media platforms were not accessible, which could impact citizens’ ability to express and receive political opinions,” the statement continued.
The Tanzanian ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), which has governed uninterrupted since independence, dismissed the findings, describing the election as peaceful, lawful, and reflective of the will of the people. The National Electoral Commission defended its conduct of the polls, insisting that the process was free and fair and that isolated incidents did not compromise the overall outcome.
However, opposition parties, civil society groups, and human rights organisations have hailed the SADC statement as validation of their long-standing claims of political repression. CHADEMA and ACT-Wazalendo leaders have called for international pressure on the government to initiate electoral reforms and release political prisoners detained during the campaign period.
Observers have linked the deteriorating political climate to the continuation of policies from the era of former president John Magufuli, under whom restrictions on the press, political gatherings, and opposition activity intensified.
While President Hassan initially projected an image of reform and reconciliation after taking office in 2021, the 2025 election has raised doubts about her commitment to liberalising the political space.
The SADC report also draws attention to the implications of growing censorship and state control over digital communication. With social media platforms blocked and journalists harassed, the ability of citizens to access information or mobilise politically was significantly curtailed. Analysts say this digital clampdown has become a defining feature of elections across the region, used to mask irregularities and prevent coordinated opposition response.
The 2025 polls have therefore reignited questions about the strength of democratic institutions within the SADC region and the organisation’s capacity to hold its members accountable. The SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, adopted in 2004, call for transparency, fairness, equal participation, and respect for human rights. Yet enforcement has often been uneven, with election observers limited to issuing non-binding statements.
For now, SADC has urged calm and dialogue among stakeholders in Tanzania. But behind the diplomatic phrasing, the message is clear: the election failed to meet the basic standards of democracy that the region has pledged to uphold.
