By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Tanzania’s electoral commission on Saturday received the nomination documents of a senior politician from the second largest opposition party, clearing the way for him to be on the ballot ahead of the next month’s presidential election following the ruling of a high court.
Luhaga Mpina had sought the relief of the court after his candidacy was earlier rejected by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a ruling on Thursday, the court overturned the disqualification of Mpina and directed that his nomination be accepted.
His disqualification earlier disqualification implied that the incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who has been in office since March 2021, would potentially face weak opposition, largely from smaller parties in the October 29 election.
Mpina, who is the top candidate for the Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT-Wazalendo) party, successfully challenged the decision to disqualify him by the Office of Registrar of Political Parties, citing complaints that his party had failed to comply with nomination procedures.
Addressing a media briefing after lodging his nomination papers on Saturday, Mpina said political parties were constitutionally guaranteed to operate in the East African country.
“Opposition politicians and opposition parties are not treasonous and criminals. There is no need to use authorities to punish political parties,” Mpina said in the capital Dar es Salaam.
Earlier on Saturday, the chairperson of INEC accepted his nomination as presidential candidate for ACT-Wazalendo.
Political watchers have said opposition parties face an uphill task in an attempt to unseat Hassan and her ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, amid the use of state bodies to clampdown of rivals.
In April, leading opposition party CHADEMA was disqualified from contesting the election after failing to sign the electoral code of conduct as part of its call for reforms.
The leader of CHADEMA party, Tundu Lissu is still in detention after being charged with treason amid criticism of Hassan’s human rights record.
Hassan has denied the accusations and said her government was committed to protecting human rights.
