Dar es Salaam. In what appears as an unwavering stance against the current political climate, youths from the opposition party CHADEMA on Tuesday were compelled to celebrate International Youth Day online, reaffirming their determination to continue fighting for “justice” and “democracy” in Tanzania.
On June 10, 2025, the High Court barred CHADEMA from conducting any political activities and from utilising its assets. This followed a case filed before the court by former leaders of the party’s Zanzibar wing, who alleged unfair distribution of resources between Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.
One of the immediate consequences of the court order is that CHADEMA can no longer hold political rallies. This forced the party to abruptly suspend its nationwide ‘No Reforms, No Election’ tour, which aimed to push for crucial electoral reforms in the country.
Bound by these same restrictions, CHADEMA’s youth wing had to commemorate International Youth Day through a virtual event, unable to join the global celebrations with a physical rally as it used to do in the past.
In remarks to CHADEMA youth commemorating International Youth Day on August 12th, BAVICHA national chairperson Deogratias Mahinyila asserted that the movement would not be slowed by current restrictions, calling on members to maintain their pursuit of democratic reforms.
READ MORE: CHADEMA Warns Members Against 2025 Election Participation, Upholds ‘No Reforms, No Election’ Stance
“We, the youth of CHADEMA, have become victims of our own democracy! In this nation’s elections, we CHADEMA youths are always the first targets – the first to have our legs broken, the first to face baseless charges, the first to be bombed. We are the ones who become scapegoats, who face constant harassment through lawsuits, who bear the heaviest brunt of electoral violence in this country,” Mahinyila, a lawyer, said.
“Therefore, our position as BAVICHA – and this is our directive to all BAVICHA leaders and CHADEMA youth nationwide – is that every region must await the party’s strategies. As our Acting Secretary General [John Mnyika] has instructed, each region must align with BAVICHA’s own strategies to ensure our ‘No Reforms, No Election’ campaign is effectively implemented,” he added.
CHADEMA will boycott the 2025 general election under the current political and legal framework, which the centre-right party argues unfairly favours the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM)—in power for nearly six decades.
Among its key preconditions for electoral participation, CHADEMA demands an authentically independent electoral commission—one not accountable to the sitting President, who is also a candidate in the upcoming election.
The party further demands that national security agencies and law enforcement play only a minimal role in electoral processes, preventing interference with citizens’ constitutional right to freely choose their leaders.
READ MORE: Police Investigate Mysterious Disappearance of CHADEMA Youth Leader in Geita
CHADEMA further demands legal reforms to permit judicial review of presidential election results, a recourse currently unavailable under Tanzania’s existing electoral laws.
Akiongea kama mgeni rasmi kwenye shughuli hiyo ya Jumanne, Makamu Mwenyekiti wa CHADEMA (Tanzania Bara), Joch Heche, acknowledged that the party’s ‘No Reform, No Election’ stance is a difficult position, but a necessary one to ensure that Tanzania has a true pluralistic politics and give electorates genuine choices.
“The movement has already caused the weak-hearted to flee, and more will abandon us,” Heche told CHADEMA youth. “I’ve been told even some Central Committee members – perhaps swayed by devilish influences – may eventually leave. But this is the right decision, one we must defend at all costs. It’s the correct path, though arduous, and we will uphold it relentlessly until the very end.”
“I will not betray you. I will stand with you, and we will win this battle—whether on that day or even sooner. If they refuse to halt the elections and implement reforms, we will escalate our resistance. Our position remains firm: No Reforms, No Election. We will not waver. We will not bend,” Heche added.
“We continue to demand—and we urge the government—to stop this charade, this reckless misuse of public funds to prop up puppet parties in a futile attempt to sanitise corruption. There will be no election if the majority are excluded. It is unconscionable.”
During these commemorations, the High Court was concurrently considering legal objections raised by CHADEMA national chairperson Tundu Lissu, who is challenging the use of anonymous witnesses in the treason case, which the court granted on August 4, 2025, approving a petition filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
READ MORE: High Court Orders Witness Protection in Treason Case Against CHADEMA Leader Tundu Lissu
However, the court dismissed those objections, meaning that civilian witnesses in Lissu’s treason case will testify under full anonymity – with neither physical courtroom appearances nor public disclosure of their identities permitted during proceedings.
Rugemeleza Nshala, lead counsel for Lissu’s defence team, told reporters outside the courthouse they were dissatisfied with the ruling and would consult their client about pursuing an appeal.
