Dar es Salaam. The opposition party CHADEMA has appealed to the international community for “moral and material support” in its campaign for key political and electoral reforms in Tanzania, ahead of the country’s 2025 general elections, which it has vowed to block if no reforms are implemented by then.
The opposition party is currently collecting signatures from Tanzanians for a petition it plans to present to international human rights organisations. The petition supports CHADEMA’s clarion call for systemic legal and regulatory reforms to ensure free and fair elections, under its ‘No Reforms, No Elections’ campaign.
In an exclusive interview with The Chanzo, the party’s Secretary for Foreign Affairs, John Kitoka, revealed that CHADEMA’s campaign specifically targets multilateral organizations – particularly major democracy and development stakeholders like the European Union – among others.
“We are also focusing on partner countries, those that support constitutional, political, and democratic reforms, as well as human rights—stakeholders who advocate for free elections,” Mr Kitoka said during the interview.
CHADEMA has already started to engage with some of these partners, as seen in their March 21, 2025, meeting with Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S Embassy, Dar es Salaam, Andrew Lentz, to “discuss the importance of free, fair, and peaceful electoral processes to the continued economic, social, and political development of Tanzania.”
READ MORE: How CHADEMA Aims to Block Tanzania’s 2025 Elections Without Electoral Reforms
Mr Kitoka told The Chanzo that these engagements are part of CHADEMA’s efforts to inform the international community and Tanzania’s key development partners that the country’s elections—and the system for selecting leaders—are neither free, transparent, nor fair. The party is seeking their support to change this.
“It is a system designed to seize the power of the people—their right to choose their leaders, their right to vote and be voted for,” he emphasized. “I want the international community to know this: whatever they hear about elections in Tanzania is a façade, not a genuine electoral process in the true sense of the word.”
Asked what he thinks is the best way the international community can help in rectifying the issue, Mr Kitoka explained members of the international community, as key allies to Tanzania’s development, have a significant role to play in influencing key legal reforms that CHADEMA is currently fighting for.
“Some of the areas where they contribute heavily include the improvement of various systems—electoral systems, democratic systems,” he noted.
“Therefore, their influence is substantial,” he added. “Pressure from them would greatly help awaken the government to the fact that our actions face strong opposition from diverse stakeholders, not just CHADEMA alone. This agenda is not CHADEMA’s; fundamentally, it is the people’s agenda. We have simply taken up the people’s cause and are fighting for it.”
Mr Kitoka said the excuse that foreign nations are not allowed to meddle in other countries’ affairs cannot be used as an excuse for members of the international community to fold their hands and let oppressive governments oppress their citizens and violate their human and democratic rights.
“Tanzania is an important part of the international community, so we cannot exist outside of it. When we are fortunate, we are grateful that the international community has helped us with our challenges.
“When there are problems affecting the people, it is equally important that we inform them of our situation. We are not forcing them to take action, but it is good for them to understand our reality—and that is what we are doing,” he emphasized.
Despite President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s assurances to religious leaders that her administration would ensure free and fair elections, CHADEMA maintains its push for reforms, arguing that rhetoric alone cannot guarantee 2025 will differ from 2020’s election – which was marred by widespread irregularities.
READ MORE: CHADEMA Presents Its ‘No Reform, No Election’ Agenda to Party Registrar
Under its ‘No Reforms, No Election’ slogan, CHADEMA has vowed to do whatever it takes to block the elections from happening if authorities do not heed its calls for reforms.
However, the Head of State has made it very clear that her administration will not tolerate any attempts to disrupt the electoral process. She has emphasized her commitment to maintaining peace and stability throughout, ensuring Tanzanians can freely exercise their democratic rights.
