Zanzibar’s two main rival parties, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and ACT-Wazalendo, wrapped up their campaigns on Sunday, October 26, 2025, ahead of the general elections scheduled for October 28 and 29. Early voting will take place on October 28, while the main voting day is set for October 29, 2025.
The two parties, which are partners in the Government of National Unity, have run intense campaigns featuring a close contest between incumbent President Dr. Hussein Mwinyi of CCM and Othman Masoud Othman, the First Vice President and ACT-Wazalendo’s presidential candidate.
CCM, led by Dr. Mwinyi, concluded its final rally at Mnazi Mmoja grounds in Mjini Magharibi, while ACT-Wazalendo held its closing event at Kibanda Maiti grounds in the same region.
In his final address, Dr. Mwinyi, seeking a second term, reaffirmed his party’s commitment to maintaining peace and stability across the islands. He pledged to continue strengthening Zanzibar’s economy through infrastructure development and the improvement of social services such as education and healthcare.
Meanwhile, ACT-Wazalendo’s candidate Othman Masoud, who was appointed First Vice President in 2021 following the death of the late Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad, the party’s founding chairman, promised reforms centered on good governance, anti-corruption efforts, and economic empowerment of citizens, especially workers. He also vowed to enhance Zanzibar’s role within the United Republic of Tanzania.
Masoud commended the security agencies for ensuring that the campaign period remained largely peaceful and free of major incidents.
In the 2020 general election, CCM’s Dr. Hussein Mwinyi faced off against the late Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad of ACT-Wazalendo. Dr. Mwinyi was declared the winner of the Zanzibar presidency with 76.27 percent of the vote, while Maalim Seif came in second with 19.87 percent.
However, ACT-Wazalendo contested the results, alleging that the election was neither free nor fair. Despite these grievances, the party agreed to join the Government of National Unity, as required by the Zanzibar Constitution.
In this election a total of 71,7557 registered voters in Zanzibar are expected to cast their ballots for the President of Zanzibar, Members of the House of Representatives, the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Members of Parliament, and councillors.
For the Zanzibar presidency, 11 candidates are contesting, though the race is widely viewed as a fierce battle between CCM and ACT-Wazalendo.
