Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on September 30, 2025.
Zanzibar Closes Voter Register Amid Opposition Dispute Over Early Voting
The Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) has officially closed its permanent voter register with 717,557 eligible voters ahead of the October 29, 2025, general election, whilst defending controversial early voting procedures that the main opposition party claims could facilitate electoral fraud.
The announcement comes as the semi-autonomous archipelago prepares for what many observers consider a critical test of its democratic institutions and the stability of its unique power-sharing government.
In a press conference held at the ZEC headquarters in Maisara on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, ZEC chairperson Judge George Joseph Kazi provided a detailed breakdown of the electoral landscape.
The 717,557 registered voters will cast their ballots across 50 constituencies, using a network of 457 main polling stations and 1,752 smaller sub-stations. The finalised register shows a slight female majority, with women comprising 53 per cent (378,334) of the electorate, while men account for 47 per cent (339,223).
Judge Kazi also addressed the contentious issue of early voting, a system that allows certain citizens to cast their ballots a day before the general election. He announced that 50 special polling stations, one in each constituency, would be established for this purpose, with the early voting scheduled for October 28, 2025.
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Tanzania Sees Fuel Prices Tumble, Offering Relief to Consumers
Motorists and businesses across the country are set to benefit from a continued drop in the retail prices of petrol and diesel.
The Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) confirmed that starting in October, petrol prices will decrease by Sh55 per litre, with diesel falling by Sh50. In the nation’s commercial hub, Dar es Salaam, a litre of petrol will now cost Sh2,752, down from Sh2,807, while diesel will be priced at Sh2,704.
According to EWURA’s Director General, Dr James Mwainyekule, the price drop is primarily attributed to a significant 5.10 per cent decrease in the cost of foreign currency exchange and a 1.95 per cent reduction in the import costs for petrol arriving at the Dar es Salaam port.
However, the price of kerosene, a vital commodity for many low-income households for lighting and cooking, will remain unchanged from September’s prices.
This price adjustment places Tanzania in a highly competitive position within the East African Community. When converted to US dollars, a litre of petrol in Tanzania now costs approximately $1.20.
This is notably lower than in neighbouring countries. In Kenya, the price hovers around $1.42, while in Uganda, it reaches as high as $1.45. Rwanda’s petrol price stands at about $1.28 per litre, making Tanzania’s fuel the most affordable among the four nations.
The reduction in fuel costs is expected to lower transportation expenses, a significant part of daily household budgets. This relief extends beyond personal travel, as it is anticipated to reduce the operational costs for businesses, particularly in sectors like agriculture and manufacturing that rely heavily on transport.
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Catholic Priest Accused of Spreading False Kidnapping Report Was Battling Mental Health Challenges, Bishop Says
The Catholic Bishop of Mafinga Diocese in Iringa Region, Vincent Mwagala, has spoken out regarding Father Jordan Kibiki, who on September 18, 2025, posted on WhatsApp claiming he had been abducted by armed men.
Bishop Mwagala explained that Father Kibiki had suffered a mental health crisis after falling victim to an online scam earlier that day. Following his recovery, the priest told police that he could not recall how he ended up in Mbeya Region.
“After medical examination, it was confirmed that he was experiencing depression,” Bishop Mwagala said. “This condition was triggered when he realized he had lost nearly 3.5 million shillings in an online business deal on eBay. He felt deceived when asked to send more money against the initial agreement with his online contact.”
The false kidnapping report prompted a police investigation. On September 24, 2025, Iringa Regional Police Commander SACP Allan Bukumbi announced that officers had traced the priest to Mbalizi in Mbeya.
Police confirmed that he had not been abducted, but had instead used WhatsApp to spread false information.
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Chief Justice Warns: Open Court Is Not a Public Hearing; Discourages Live Streaming
In a publicly shared recording of a consultative meeting held on September 24, 2025, between the Chief Justice, the Tanganyika Law Society, and the Police, Tanzania’s Chief Justice George Mcheche Masaju weighed in on the ongoing debate about public access to court proceedings. Masaju cautioned that open court does not mean a public hearing.
The meeting followed an incident on September 15, 2025, when police beat CHADEMA supporters for the second time outside court premises as they attempted to access the trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu. A similar incident occurred on April 24, 2025, when CHADEMA supporters attending a hearing were barred from entering. Several were reportedly taken to remote areas outside the city, where they were brutally tortured by police officers.
“The court is a place where judicial activities take place, which include listening to cases and making decisions, it is not a place for a public hearing,” Chief Justice Masaju said.
“Because it is a place for hearing cases to deliver fair judgments, it has its own rules and procedures. The court is an open court, but not a public hearing,” he continued.
Following the April 24 incident, the court livestreamed Lissu’s treason trial to allow more people to follow the proceedings. This was the first time in Tanzania’s history that a court hearing was livestreamed, and it was done at the court’s discretion.
However, the livestreaming was later halted after an application by the prosecution. In his remarks, Chief Justice Masaju discouraged livestreaming, arguing that it was not cost-efficient.
“There are rules that regulate the proceedings there, and those who insist on forcing their way into court even when there isn’t enough space should reflect on that,” Masaju argued.
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