Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on September 25, 2025.
Catholic Church Warns Clergy Against Political Campaigning Ahead of Tanzania’s 2025 Election
The influential Catholic Church in Tanzania has forbidden its clergy, including priests and nuns, from engaging in any form of political campaigning, calling such actions a “great sin” and a “defilement of the Church.”
The directive was issued by the President of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), Archbishop Wolfgang Pisa, during a mass on Thursday, September 25, 2025, to mark the centenary of the Kipalapala Major Seminary in Tabora.
The warning comes as Tanzania prepares for what critics describe as a questionable multiparty election, with the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party facing minimal electoral competition after what critics describe as systematic exclusion of major opposition candidates.
“It is forbidden for a priest, it is forbidden for a nun, it is forbidden for you seminarians, to be seen in political campaigns,” Archbishop Pisa stated emphatically. “A great prohibition. We are not supposed to be seen there.”
The Archbishop’s strong admonition follows an incident where several Catholic nuns were seen at a campaign rally for President Samia Suluhu Hassan in Mtwara region, publicly endorsing her re-election bid.
Sister Maria Theonestina Nambunga, of the Benedictine Sisters of Africa of the Virgin Mary Helper of Christians in Ndanda, Mtwara region, told journalists that she attended the campaign meeting to support President Samia and pray for her victory in the October general election.
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Death of CCM Candidate Forces Postponement of Fuoni Parliamentary Election
The parliamentary election for the Fuoni Constituency in Zanzibar has been officially suspended following the death of the ruling party’s candidate, Abass Ali Mwinyi.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the suspension on Thursday, invoking electoral laws that mandate a halt to the process upon the death of a candidate.
Abass Ali Mwinyi, who was the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) flagbearer for the Fuoni seat and the brother of Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi, passed away on Thursday at the Lumumba Regional Referral Hospital. He is scheduled to be buried on Friday in Mangapwani.
In a statement, Miraji Mwadini Haji, the Election Supervisor for the Fuoni Constituency, confirmed that the commission acted after formal notification from CCM-Zanzibar. The decision is based on Section 71(1) of the 2024 elections law.
“Accordingly, the parliamentary election in the Fuoni Constituency, West B District, Zanzibar, is suspended effective today, September 25, 2025,” the statement read.
The commission outlined the next steps, noting that a new election timetable will be published in the Government Gazette. All previously nominated candidates will remain in the race unless they formally withdraw. However, all campaign activities in the constituency are prohibited until CCM selects a new candidate.
In a gesture of respect and solidarity, ACT-Wazalendo, the main opposition party and a partner in the Isles government, also suspended its campaign activities. The party cancelled a public rally and other events scheduled for Thursday.
“Considering humanity, solidarity, and human dignity, ACT-Wazalendo has decided to suspend political activities in that area,” said Salim Biman, the party’s Secretary for Information and Public Communications.
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President Samia Hails Malawi’s Peaceful Poll, Congratulates President-Elect Mutharika
President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Thursday extended warm congratulations to Arthur Peter Mutharika on his election victory in Malawi’s pivotal 2025 general election, a poll widely praised for its peacefulness and transparency.
In a statement shared on her official Instagram account, President Samia pledged to strengthen the historic ties between the two neighbouring nations.
“On behalf of the Government and the people of the United Republic of Tanzania, I convey my heartfelt congratulations to His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika,” the President said. “I look forward to working together to further strengthen our historic ties.”
The election marks a significant political comeback for Mutharika, 85, and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Official results show that he won 57 per cent of the vote, compared to the 33 per cent of President Lazarus Chakwera, 70.
International observers from the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have preliminarily commended the electoral process as orderly and credible, a notable achievement following the annulled and contentious 2019 election.
President Samia’s statement notably praised this peaceful transition. “I commend His Excellency President Dr Lazarus Chakwera, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and the people of Malawi, for a peaceful election and a smooth transition,” she added, underscoring the importance of democratic stability in the region.
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Poland Condemns Russian Drone Incursion: ‘We Will Not Be Provoked’
The Polish Embassy in Tanzania briefed journalists in Dar es Salaam about the September 9–10, 2025, drone incident, in which about 20 Russian drones violated Polish airspace.
Speaking to reporters on September 25, 2025, the Head of Mission of Poland, Sergiusz Wolski, said that Russia’s actions required the country to strengthen its defense capabilities and to support NATO’s deterrence and defense policy.
“Russia launched around 20 drones into Polish territory. Some of these drones came from Belarus. This was a planned operation. It lasted more than 7 hours. The Russians used decoy drones with extended range. So, they were flying for a few hours around Polish territory,” said Sergiusz Wolski, Poland’s Head of Mission.
The incident prompted response from Poland and its NATO allies, who deployed fighter jets to counter the threat.
“The Polish Air Force and our allies, namely the Netherlands, Germany, Italy responded professionally. We neutralized the threat and shot down some of these drones,” Wolski said.
While Russia has denied targeting Poland, the incident has triggered widespread discussion across Europe, especially given that similar incursions have occurred in other countries. Some analysts describe these events as a provocative test of NATO’s response.
Other incidents include a drone incursion into Romanian airspace on September 14, 2025, and the breach of Estonian airspace by three armed Russian MiG-31 aircraft on September 19, 2025. Unidentified drones were also reported over Copenhagen Airport in Denmark.
The Polish government had summoned the Russian representative in Warsaw, and the matter was also debated at the UN Security Council. “Russia aims to draw other countries into the war, including Poland,” Wolski said. “Russia does not act as a responsible member of the international community.”
“For many months they have carried out hybrid operations in the region, not only in Poland, but in the whole region of northern and eastern Europe. It includes GPS jamming, cutting undersea cables, arson, disinformation campaign and cyberattacks,” he continued.
European defense ministers are expected to meet today, September 26, 2025, to discuss measures against the threat of Russia’s drone incursions into European skies.
Opposition Youth Leader Speaks Out as Wave of Enforced Disappearances Grips Tanzania
Deogratius Mahinyila knows the names by heart. Deusdedit Soka, Dionis Kipanya, Mdude Nyagali—friends and colleagues from Tanzania’s main opposition party who have vanished without trace over the past year.
As national chairperson of CHADEMA’s youth wing, the 30-year-old lawyer has compiled a registry of more than 10 party leaders who have disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
“This issue is deeply personal,” Mahinyila said in an interview with The Chanzo, his voice steady despite the fear that shadows his daily life. His own arrest at Dar es Salaam’s High Court, where plainclothes officers manhandled him despite his presence as a legal representative, serves as a stark reminder of the risks facing government critics in the East African nation.
The disappearances have created a climate of fear that extends far beyond CHADEMA’s ranks. United Nations experts report that over 200 cases of enforced disappearance have been recorded in Tanzania since 2019, with the pace accelerating as the country approaches general elections scheduled for October 29, 2025.
The brutality of these incidents is exemplified by the case of Edgar Mwakabela, a social media activist known as Sativa. In June 2024, he was abducted from a Dar es Salaam highway, driven more than 1,000 kilometres to Katavi National Park, and shot in the head before being left for dead. His survival provides rare testimony to the systematic nature of the attacks.
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