In Lindi, as is the case across Tanzania, the struggle for democracy continues unabated. ACT Wazalendo is mobilising its leaders and members to defend our democratic rights. The recent party’s National Executive Committee meeting in Dar es Salaam issued a clarion call: we must protect democracy by restoring the sanctity of the vote.
I was asked by the party leadership to travel to Lindi to explain to party rank and file about the resolutions of the NEC meeting. I dwelled on two critical resolutions from the NEC—Resolution No. 6 and Resolution No. 1—that demand urgent electoral reforms.
Resolution No. 6 mandated nationwide rallies and congregations to unite our members and leaders in this fight. Resolution No. 1 articulated our core demand: meaningful improvements to our electoral system. These are not abstract ideals but concrete steps to address a crisis that has eroded trust in our democracy over three consecutive elections—2019, 2020, and 2024.
In 2019, local government elections saw opposition candidates systematically disqualified, leaving no real choice for voters. In 2020, this pattern escalated: over 1,000 councillors now serve nationwide without being elected by the people, having faced no opposition due to disqualifications.
Twenty-eight MPs, including Tanzania’s Prime Minister, sit in the National Assembly without a mandate from the electorate. Some opposition candidates were kidnapped or intimidated into withdrawing, while others saw returning officers lock their doors to block nomination forms.
Where these tactics failed, fake ballots surfaced—some even found littering streets before voting began—handing the ruling CCM’s candidates implausible victories of 95 per cent or more.
The 2024 local elections dashed any lingering hope for change. Despite promises of reform from President Samia Suluhu Hassan, we witnessed the same playbook: security forces, funded by our taxes, stuffing ballot boxes for mere village or street chair positions.
If this happens at the grassroots, what will they do when parliamentary seats—with the power to unseat a president—are at stake? The message is clear: the value of our vote has been stolen.
Key demands
ACT Wazalendo’s Operation Protect Democracy seeks to reverse this travesty. Our demands are simple, specific, and rooted in existing law. First, we call for an independent electoral commission.
The current body, with figures like Omar Ramadhan Mapuri—a known CCM loyalist—among its ranks, lacks credibility. Tanzania’s own legislation, signed by the CCM chairperson who is also our President, requires commission members to be appointed through a competitive process.
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Yet, the government refuses to implement its own law. We say: dissolve the current commission, open applications to all Tanzanians, and let an impartial panel select members based on merit—not party allegiance.
Second, we demand that election administration be removed from the hands of CCM-aligned officials. District Executive Directors (DEDs), ward executives, and other local administrators—many of whom double as CCM cadres—should not oversee polling.
The law already bars DEDs from managing elections, yet in 2024, they did just that. We propose that temporary, neutral staff be recruited by an independent commission to run elections, ensuring fairness at every level.
These reforms are not radical; they are practical steps to restore credibility. Today, voters cannot trust that their ballots will be counted honestly. In 2020 and 2024, agents were denied entry to polling stations or refused copies of results.
Fake votes inflated totals, while security forces meddled openly. We envision a system where ballot papers stay at polling stations—not in the hands of CCM agents or police—where voters cast their choice, and agents verify transparent results.
High stakes
The stakes are high. When democracy falters, so does national pride. Example, Tanzanians no longer cheer for our national football team Taifa Stars with the same fervor; many see it as CCM’s team, not ours.
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This disillusionment severs the bond between citizen and state—a bond forged by the vote. If CCM believes it can suppress opposition without consequence, it is wrong. It is dismantling the very fabric of our nationhood.
ACT Wazalendo is not alone in this fight. Major opposition parties share our concerns, yet CCM dismisses dialogue through platforms like the Tanzania Center for Democracy (TCD).
Instead of debating us on the streets, let CCM face us at the table. Our demands are clear: an independent commission, neutral election staff, and an end to security force interference. These are not luxuries but necessities for a fair electoral playing field.
We call on all Tanzanians—ACT members and beyond—to make this our anthem: We want a free electoral commission! The time for half-measures is over. Let us fight, not just for ourselves, but for a Tanzania where every vote counts again.
Zitto Kabwe is the former leader of the opposition ACT-Wazalendo party. He is available at zittokabwe@gmail.com and on X as @zittokabwe. These are the writer’s own opinions and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of The Chanzo. Do you want to publish in this space? Contact our editors at editor@thechanzo.com for further inquiries.
