By Lucy Adautin
Tanzania’s leading opposition party, CHADEMA, has described its exclusion from upcoming elections as a violation of the constitution on Tuesday. This comes just days after its leader was arrested and charged with treason.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), CHADEMA failed to sign the electoral code of conduct, rendering it ineligible to participate in the presidential and parliamentary elections anticipated in October.
The party’s chairman, Tundu Lissu, who narrowly survived an assassination attempt involving 16 gunshots in 2017, was last week accused of treason. Prosecutors allege he made a speech inciting citizens to rebel and disrupt the electoral process.
The decision to prosecute Lissu for a capital offence and bar CHADEMA from the polls is expected to invite renewed criticism of the government’s human rights practices.
“A constitutional entitlement cannot be overridden by a code of conduct established by the Electoral Commission,” said CHADEMA’s Chief Attorney, Rugemeleza Nshala.
Previously, CHADEMA had issued warnings that it would boycott the elections unless meaningful reforms were implemented, arguing that the current system heavily favours the ruling party.
“Our stance remains unchanged: no reforms, no participation,” Nshala reiterated.
Human rights advocates and opposition groups have accused President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration of stepping up its crackdown on dissent, pointing to a pattern of mysterious abductions and killings.
The government has dismissed these claims and stated that investigations into the reported abductions are underway.
