Sat Apr 12 22:29:33 UTC 2025: ## Tanzania’s Ruling Party Bars Main Opposition from Elections, Leader Faces Treason Charge
**Dar es Salaam, Tanzania** – Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, has been barred from participating in October’s presidential and parliamentary elections, escalating concerns about the state of democracy in the East African nation. The Independent National Elections Commission (INEC) announced the disqualification on Saturday, citing Chadema’s failure to sign a mandatory code of conduct agreement. The ban extends to all by-elections until 2030.
This move comes just days after Chadema leader Tundu Lissu, a prominent critic of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, was charged with treason. Prosecutors allege Lissu incited rebellion and attempted to disrupt the elections, a charge that carries a potential death sentence. Lissu has not yet been allowed to enter a plea.
Chadema had previously threatened a boycott of the elections unless electoral reforms were implemented, and on Saturday confirmed it would not sign the code of conduct as part of its campaign for change. The party has yet to officially respond to its disqualification.
The government’s actions have drawn criticism from human rights organizations and opposition groups, who accuse the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party of suppressing dissent. Allegations of unexplained abductions and killings of political activists continue to fuel these concerns. The CCM government denies any involvement in such abuses and insists its commitment to human rights. President Hassan is seeking re-election.
The exclusion of Chadema, coupled with the treason charge against its leader, casts a significant shadow over the upcoming elections and raises serious questions about the fairness and transparency of the electoral process in Tanzania.
First Piper 