Dar es Salaam. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has urged the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to ensure fairness in the upcoming General Election on October 29, 2025, stating that doing so is of great importance to the nation, as “where there is fairness, there is grace.”
The Head of State made the call on August 24, 2025, in Dar es Salaam, while addressing a Peace Conference ahead of the 2025 General Election. The conference was organised by the Union of Tanzanian Imams and took place at the Diamond Jubilee Hall in the city.
“Grace abounds and blessings descend, and society prospers when the word ‘justice’ is held in high esteem,” said President Samia. “On behalf of all Tanzanians, our message to the Electoral Commission is: stand firm and ensure justice.”
INEC has already announced the schedule for the collection and return of nomination forms, which will run from August 14, 2025, to August 27 for the selection of councillors, members of parliament, and the president.
The campaign period will begin on August 28 and continue until October 28. The nationwide vote will be held on October 29, 2025, except for Zanzibar, where its two-day voting process means the exercise will begin there on October 28.
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Speaking at the conference, Samia, who is also the national chairperson of the ruling party, Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), and its presidential candidate in the upcoming election, warned about the threat of breaches of peace during this period and called for heightened vigilance.
According to President Samia’s theory, for whom 2025 will be her first time directly facing Tanzanians to ask for their mandate to lead for the next five-year term, the breach of peace in various nations does not happen by accident, but is orchestrated by specific individuals who desire such outcomes.
“These individuals are both outside and inside the country,” analysed President Samia, who came to power on March 19, 2021, following the death of her predecessor, John Maguguli.
“Those outside are the ones who feel that if they disrupt us, they will get an opportunity to come and do what they desire, or they will change the country’s leadership.
“They will bring in those who were not built by the systems of our founding fathers from the independence era, to install their own people whom they can control and then run the country as they do in other areas.
“But those inside are divided; there are those who are used by the outside forces, but there are also those who are moved primarily by greed for power and wealth.”
Samia’s cryptic message comes at a time when the government she leads is facing fierce opposition due to various issues that some people believe her administration has failed to take firm action to address.
Among these issues are enforced disappearances, a matter that even President Samia herself has publicly spoken about, having called on defence and security organs to look into it carefully and ensure it is stopped, yet it continues to be a topic of discussion.
While there are major critics of the government within the country, some of this criticism has also come from Tanzanians living abroad, who actively use social media platforms to express their dissatisfaction with how things are being run in Tanzania.
While addressing the Islamic religious leaders on Sunday, President Samia emphasised the critical importance of maintaining the nation’s peace and stability, drawing hope from the religious and political leaders, many of whom have been preaching peace and unity.
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“There is life after the election,” the President said. “During this period, my plea is to maintain peace by avoiding unnecessary conflicts. Peace is not the absence of conflicts or disputes; it is the use of peaceful means to resolve conflicts—that is what brings true peace.”
President Samia also used the opportunity to acknowledge the important and sensitive role of journalists in maintaining peace in the country, particularly during the election period, urging them to continue recognising the great responsibility they bear and to act and behave accordingly.
“Journalists are a crucial group in ensuring peace exists within our country,” she noted. “Their pens are what will bring peace; their weapons are more powerful than guns. A pen is even more dangerous than a gun. Let us ensure our country comes before our personal interests.”
