Tanzania has entered a new chapter. For the first time in our nation’s political history, a woman, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has been elected President through a general election. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), her victory in 2025 was decisive, securing 97.66 per cent of the vote against 16 other candidates.
This election will be remembered as both a milestone and a profound test of our democracy, our unity, and our collective commitment to peace. For decades, Tanzania has stood as a beacon of stability in a turbulent region, even amidst intense political competition.
Yet, the distressing violence that unfolded this year in Mwanza, Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mbeya, and Songwe compels us to pause and reflect: What kind of democracy are we building, and what critical lessons must we now learn?
It is vital to state from the outset that Tanzania’s democracy has never been a copy-and-paste version of Western liberalism. Ours is a homegrown system, shaped by our unique history, culture, and nation-building journey.
The American political scientist Samuel P. Huntington argues that democracy cannot be transplanted wholesale; its success depends on political institutions adapting to a country’s own traditions and level of development. We have long understood this.
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Our democracy values participation, certainly—but above all, it prizes unity, peace, and stability. These principles, inherited from the vision of Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, are the bedrock upon which our peaceful republic was built.
Nyerere, in his Freedom and Development speeches (1968-1973), reminded us that “there must be freedom because every individual is not served by the society unless it’s his. And there must be unity because only when the society is united can its members live and work in peace, security and wellbeing.”
This philosophy makes our democracy not perfect, but purposeful. It suits us because Tanzania’s strength has always flowed from its ability to blend robust political participation with enduring social cohesion.
Shared development
Our peace was not accidental. It was constructed, brick by brick, through deliberate policies of equality and shared development. From the Ujamaa villages to modern infrastructure projects, nation-building has been the core of our political identity. Roads, schools, and hospitals were not merely economic investments; they were tangible symbols of a shared national belonging.
This spirit of inclusivity, this unwavering belief that ‘we are one nation’, has historically acted as a vital safety valve against political chaos. It ensured our disagreements remained civil and that elections concluded with handshakes, not gunfire.
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The 2025 election, however, exposed dangerous cracks in this tradition. In several regions, protests escalated into deadly clashes. Curfews were imposed, businesses were vandalised, and families were left mourning their loved ones. For a nation unaccustomed to such scenes, this was a profound shock.
While the official results declared a continuity of leadership, the subsequent violence demonstrated that our peace can never be taken for granted. The triggers were multifaceted: legitimate political grievances were dangerously amplified by a torrent of misinformation, rumours, and unverified claims spreading like wildfire through social media.
What began as online hype metastasised into street-level unrest, proving decisively that the digital realm can be a tool for unity or a weapon of division.
Lessons
The lessons are clear and urgent. First, peace is fragile and must be guarded zealously, both online and off. The uniqueness of our democracy lies in dialogue and unity, not in digital outrage.
Second, nation-building cannot rely on infrastructure alone; it must be underpinned by deep civic awareness and responsible communication. A modern democracy requires citizens who verify before they share, think before they act, and understand that a single reckless post can unravel years of painstaking peacebuilding.
Third, justice and dialogue remain our most powerful tools. In times of conflict, no one truly wins; instead, our economy suffers, our international reputation weakens, and our social fabric tears. Tanzania’s authentic political culture has always been grounded in conversation, not confrontation. To reclaim that spirit is our only way forward.
In her swearing-in ceremony in November 2025, President Samia Suluhu Hassan struck the right note, reminding the nation:
Translated: “Dear citizens, one attribute of a human being is imperfection; only God is without flaw. That is why in our human journey we are bound together by dialogue, communication and understanding. As we move forward, we shall not tire nor turn back from upholding everything that concerns building unity and the stance of our nation.”
Moving forward
Her message—one of humility, healing, and hope—must now guide our actions. Moving forward means learning from this tragedy, not weaponising it. It demands that we strengthen our institutions of peace, improve transparency and communication, and rebuild public trust.
It requires that both government and citizens act with utmost responsibility: leaders must eschew inflammatory language, and social media users must embrace restraint and truth.
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Our path is a collective one. We must safeguard our peace with the same unwavering determination our founders used to build it. Let us champion responsible dialogue, civic maturity, and national unity as living values, not mere political slogans.
The 2025 election should serve as a stark reminder to every Tanzanian that our democracy is a living entity, still growing and evolving. And with growth comes responsibility. We owe it to those who lost their lives to ensure such violence is never repeated.
We owe it to future generations to protect Tanzania’s hard-won stability. And we owe it to ourselves to continue proving that our democracy—uniquely, resiliently Tanzanian—is strong enough to adapt and wise enough to learn from its own challenges.
Mariam Gichan is a freelance journalist based in Dar es Salaam. She can be reached at mariamgichan@gmail.com or on +255 754 215 690. The opinions expressed here are the writer’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Chanzo. If you are interested in publishing in this space, please contact our editors at editor@thechanzo.com.
