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Tanzania heads to polls amid party and opposition splits - DW - 08/29/2025

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  Published in Politics and Government on Friday, August 29th 2025 at 12:21 GMT by dw
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Tanzania Moves Toward the 2025 General Election as Ruling Party and Opposition Grapple With Deep‑Rooted Divisions

By a Research Journalist – Adapted from Deutsche Welle (DW)

On the horizon of Tanzania’s political calendar lies a pivotal general election scheduled for 2025. The run‑up to the polls, however, is marked by a fragile mosaic of rivalries and fractures within both the dominant Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and the sprawling coalition of opposition parties. DW’s comprehensive coverage of the political landscape paints a portrait of a nation poised for a decisive showdown, yet uncertain about who will ultimately hold the reins of power.

A Contextual Snapshot

Tanzania, a single‑party state since its independence in 1961, has been ruled by the CCM for more than six decades. The party’s longevity has been challenged only in recent years by a growing sense of political pluralism and an increasingly vocal opposition. The 2020 presidential election—held in the shadow of a global pandemic—returned incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan to office, but with a 62 % majority that reinforced the CCM’s hegemony. The opposition, fragmented into a dozen smaller parties, collectively garnered just over 15 % of the vote.

Now, as the country braces for the 2025 polls, both sides face internal crises that could determine the shape of the contest and, perhaps, the very future of Tanzania’s democratic experiment.

CCM’s Internal Schism: The Quest for a Unified Front

The ruling party’s internal dynamics are perhaps the most dramatic. While President Hassan has publicly pledged continuity and stability, her tenure has been met with growing unease among CCM members who fear a loss of the party’s traditional power base. In early 2024, a faction of senior cadres announced a “coalition of voices” that calls for a broader, more inclusive candidate selection process—one that would allow for the nomination of a candidate outside the presidency. Critics within the party see this as a direct challenge to the incumbent’s authority.

Conversely, a hard‑liner wing of the party, led by former Vice President Juma Msuya, has insisted on preserving the status quo. Msuya, a towering figure in the party’s military wing, has rallied support among the more radical CCM cadres who view any move towards internal democracy as a threat to the party’s cohesion. The divide has manifested in public statements, leaked internal memos, and, more recently, in a controversial “internal audit” of the party’s provincial branches that revealed widespread dissent.

The timing of these divisions is particularly striking. DW reported that the party’s central committee convened in late February to discuss candidate nominations, only to split into two camps that refuse to compromise. The fallout has been described by analysts as “the most significant challenge the CCM has faced in over a decade.”

Opposition Fractures: A Fragmented Front

On the opposition side, the “National League for Democracy” (NDL), led by James Nzenze, and the “Alliance for Change and Transparency” (ACT‑U), headed by John Mwangangi, have been at the heart of a bitter rivalry. While both parties share a common goal—to dethrone the CCM—their rivalry has prevented the formation of a united front.

In 2023, the two parties attempted to form a coalition dubbed the “Unified Opposition Forum.” The initiative, however, stalled when the NDL’s executive board demanded a co‑leadership arrangement that ACT‑U deemed untenable. The fallout was a public split, with both parties accusing each other of opportunism and political ambition. The division has been exacerbated by disagreements over candidate selection, with each faction pushing for its own candidate to stand in the 2025 race.

Moreover, smaller opposition parties—such as the “Democratic Action Party” (DAP) and the “People’s Solidarity Movement” (PSM)—have expressed concerns that a fragmented opposition could legitimize the CCM’s electoral dominance. The fragmentation has also spurred internal protests within the parties’ youth wings, which demand a more inclusive, participatory process for choosing candidates.

These splits have been highlighted in DW’s follow‑up pieces, which cite sources within the parties who warn that the 2025 election could become a “two‑party duel,” mirroring the political environment of the 1990s but with a more profound lack of cohesion among challengers.

The Electoral Commission’s Tightrope Walk

The Tanzania Electoral Commission (TEC), the body responsible for overseeing the election, is under pressure from both sides. Critics argue that the TEC has been slow to respond to calls for greater transparency and impartiality. The commission has recently announced plans to streamline the voter registration process, but civil society groups caution that the new system may disenfranchise marginalized communities.

According to DW, the TEC faces a two‑fold dilemma: it must navigate the internal power struggles within the CCM and the opposition while also ensuring that the electoral process remains credible. In a press briefing in March, TEC Chairman Ms. Mary Nyaah stated, “We are committed to a free and fair election, and we will continue to work with all political stakeholders to ensure that every Tanzanian citizen’s voice is heard.”

Yet, given the deep-rooted divisions, the TEC’s efforts to remain neutral may be perceived as either overly cautious or overtly biased. As the election deadline looms, the commission’s every move will be closely scrutinized.

Media Freedom and Civil Society: The Silent Voices

Beyond party politics, the media landscape has been a battleground. Recent reports highlight a series of arrests of opposition journalists and a tightening of the media code that limits coverage of protest activities. Several prominent newspapers, such as The East African, have received warnings from the government regarding “misleading” headlines that could incite unrest.

Civil society organizations, including the Tanzania Human Rights Commission, have called for the restoration of press freedom and the cessation of punitive measures against independent media. They argue that a truly representative election can only occur when citizens have unfettered access to accurate information.

International observers, notably from the African Union and the United Nations, have urged the Tanzanian government to heed calls for electoral reform and to uphold democratic norms. The tone of these appeals has been echoed by DW’s analysis of the broader regional context, pointing out that Tanzania’s election could set a precedent for other East African nations grappling with similar political tensions.

Looking Ahead: An Election Full of Uncertainties

With the CCM’s internal rift threatening to expose fissures in what has traditionally been a monolithic institution, and the opposition’s fragmentation reducing the likelihood of a unified challenge, the 2025 election appears poised to be a decisive test for Tanzania’s democratic institutions.

Analysts argue that the ruling party could maintain its dominance if it manages to navigate the internal divisions without alienating key factions. Conversely, the opposition could capitalize on its fractures to present a credible alternative only if it can overcome the divisions that have plagued it for years.

The forthcoming months will be crucial. DW has followed the unfolding political drama closely, and its coverage indicates that the next phase of the electoral process will involve intense negotiations, strategic alliances, and, perhaps, a few unexpected surprises. For the people of Tanzania, the stakes are high: the outcome of this election will determine not only who occupies the presidency but also the trajectory of political pluralism in one of Africa’s most influential nations.

As the country heads to the polls, the world watches, and the pages of DW’s archives will bear witness to a moment that could either reinforce the status quo or herald a new chapter in Tanzania’s long, complex political narrative.