Tanzania has committed to receiving and facilitating the visit and work of the Commonwealth Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, who was appointed as part of the Commonwealth’s efforts to address Tanzania’s 2025 election incidents. This was revealed on March 7, 2026, during the Seventy-Second Meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group held in London.
The Special Envoy, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, was appointed on November 17, 2025, and was expected to visit the country between November 18 and 21, 2025. However, the visit never materialized.
Following Tanzania’s October 29, 2025, general election, which was marked by protests and a security crackdown that left an unknown number of civilians dead, the government formed a commission. The Tanzanian government had maintained that the main work of assessing the October 29 incidents would be undertaken by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry launched on November 20, 2025. During the launch, President Samia explained the government’s position regarding support from global partners:
“Now, regarding this event that occurred, I thought that before we are presented with external commissions, we should have our own domestic commission, let it do the work, and when the external ones arrive, they will come to speak with their counterpart commission that had already commenced the work,” President Samia said on November 20, 2025.
READ: The Full Text of President Samia’s Address at the Launch of the Commission of Inquiry
The Commission of Inquiry has drawn criticism from the opposition, which has characterized it as an attempt for cover-up. However, the Tanzanian president has dismissed the claims, saying she has full confidence in the commission. Emphasizing Tanzania’s position, President Samia Suluhu, while speaking at a function to explain the government’s actions following the October 29 events, criticized the international community reaction.
“Out there, they sit and say, ‘Oh, Tanzania must do this, must do that, must do the other, then it will be like this. Who are you?,” President Samia said on December 03, 2025.
She continued: “Let me ask you, my brothers and sisters: do these things not happen in their own countries? Do they not happen there? Have we ever raised our voices to speak about what happens in their countries? They still think they are our masters, that they are our colonizers. For what reason? Because of the small amounts of money they give us? And even that money is no longer there.”
READ: Probe into Tanzania’s Post-Election Unrest Extended
Following developments in the country, the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) called for an extraordinary meeting, which was held virtually on December 5, 2025. During the meeting, the group received a report from Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo.
The Group, which is the custodian of the fundamental political values of the Commonwealth, ‘expressed the collective concern of the Commonwealth on the reports of breaches to the fundamental values and principles of the Commonwealth, including the respect for human rights and the freedom of expression, democracy, rule of law, and good governance. Members expressed deep concern over the reported deteriorating situation pre- and post–elections.’
The group then placed Tanzania on its formal agenda; which is considered a monitoring mechanism, with further decisions expected at the next meeting on March 7, 2026. In the December meeting, CMAG also set several conditions, including:
Granting the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy full and free access to all relevant stakeholders at the earliest opportunity; lifting restrictions on freedom of assembly and expression, as well as on civil society and the media.
READ: Kivulini Talks: Tanzania After October 29—Where Do We Go From Here?
Also, the holding of an inter-party consultative forum to agree on a collective framework on the way forward for the next election; and The implementation of transparent legal and administrative processes to hold perpetrators of the violence and its consequences accountable and to compensate victims where appropriate.
This time around, Tanzania sent its Minister of State in the President’s Office (Special Duties), Prof. Palamagamba Kabudi, alongside the Presidential Advisor on Foreign Affairs to appear before CMAG. The two officials first held a meeting with the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Shirley Botchwey, before later appearing before CMAG on March 07, 2025.
Unlike the December 2025 meeting, which appeared tense, with the Commonwealth taking a firm stance, the March 2026 meeting reflects signs of progress, particularly in the posture of the Tanzanian government.
The concluding statement from CMAG characterized the meeting as a ‘productive engagement.’ However, the group decided to maintain Tanzania under its monitoring mechanism.
“CMAG decided to retain Tanzania on its Formal Agenda and encouraged the Government of Tanzania, to advance, with the support of the Secretariat, on the areas outlined in CMAG’s Seventy-first Meeting in December 2025,” the statement reads.
“CMAG welcomed Tanzania’s commitment to receive and facilitate the visit and work of the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy in March 2026. CMAG looks forward to a robust assessment from the Special Envoy and in particular on issues raised by CMAG,” the statement conclude.
In a statement released by Tanzania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the country expressed its readiness to welcome the Commonwealth Secretary-General’s Special Envoy.
