DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has faulted Tanzania’s 2025 General Election for falling short of regional democratic standards, citing intimidation of voters, restricted media coverage, and obstruction of election observers.
In its 18-page preliminary report released on Friday, the SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) said the two-day election, held on October 28 and 29, “fell short of the requirements of the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.”
“In most areas, voters could not express their democratic will,” said mission head Richard Msowoya, a former Speaker of Malawi’s Parliament.
The mission observed that while the election environment remained largely peaceful, several systemic and procedural issues undermined its credibility.
Observers Restricted, Media Muzzled
SEOM reported that its teams faced difficulties engaging election officials and key stakeholders.
In some cases, officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) demanded additional documentation before consultations, while others declined meetings altogether and redirected observers to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In Tanga, observers were subjected to “aggressive questioning” by security officers, who temporarily confiscated their accreditation and forced them to delete photos from their devices.
The mission also highlighted “restricted media space” and “self-censorship,” saying opposition campaigns received limited visibility compared to the ruling party.
Calm Polling Day, But Integrity in Question
Despite the constraints, SEOM noted that most polling stations were well-organised and calm, with 96 per cent of them adequately equipped and accessible to all voters.
Police presence was reported at nearly all stations, and 88 per cent of officers were unarmed.
However, the report raised concern over “stacked ballots” and incidents of multiple voting, saying they “cast doubt on the integrity of the process.”
Observers said their ability to monitor the counting and results transmission was further hampered by internet disruptions and sporadic violence during the closing stages of voting.
Reforms Urged
SADC called on Tanzanian authorities to undertake constitutional and legal reforms, including allowing independent candidates, enabling courts to review presidential results, and ensuring timely accreditation of observers.
Article 41(7) of Tanzania’s Constitution bars judicial review of presidential election results, a provision SEOM said contradicts SADC’s principles on electoral justice.
The mission also recommended policies to enhance women’s and youth participation, noting that only three of the 17 presidential candidates were women, while just 49,174 registered voters were persons with disabilities.
Election Context
The polls were overseen by INEC and the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC), with 37.6 million registered voters — an increase of more than 26 per cent from 2020.
While the pre-election period was calm, SEOM said the scheduling of political rallies by INEC to avoid clashes “undermined multi-party competition and discouraged voter participation.”
The mission comprised 80 members, including 66 observers from 10 SADC countries deployed across 25 regions, among them Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Dodoma, and Zanzibar.
Appeal for Calm
Msowoya urged Tanzanians to channel any grievances through legal avenues and refrain from violence as the electoral process concludes.
“The Mission appeals to all stakeholders to avoid violence and respect the rule of law,” he said.
