Tanzania’s government, through the budget speech, has stated that during the 11 months from July 2024 to May 2025, the government has spent 741.5 billion Tanzanian shillings in preparation for the election, which is expected to take place in October 2025.
The budget speech delivered by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Mwigulu Nchemba, reads:
“Items which received funds during the period under review include: public debt service amounted to 11.16 trillion shillings; wages and salaries amounted to 10.27 trillion shillings; and preparations for the 2025 General Election amounted to 741.5 billion shillings.”
The budget expenditure book shows that the total estimated funds allocated to the National Electoral Commission for the 2025/26 financial year amount to 378.2 billion shillings, with 316.2 billion earmarked specifically for the election. This brings the total amount expected to be spent on preparations and the actual election process in 2025 to 1 trillion shillings. This makes the 2025 election one of the most expensive general elections in recent years.
In the 2020 election, a total of 416.8 billion shillings was spent, with election preparations costing 154.3 billion and the Electoral Commission spending 262.2 billion out of the 331.8 billion allocated in conducting the election.
For the 2015 general election, a total of 534 billion shillings was used, with 260.8 billion spent on preparations and 273.6 billion used for conducting the election. The government has stated that all costs for the general election will be covered by domestic funds.
