CHADEMA chairperson Freeman Mbowe has reiterated that the party will not withdraw from the upcoming local government elections despite significant challenges, particularly the widespread disqualification of its candidates across the country. Speaking to journalists on November 19, 2024, at the party’s headquarters in Mikocheni, Dar es Salaam, Mbowe described the ongoing process as a “rape of Tanzania’s democracy.”

“They are dividing the nation for no reason, maybe because they think they have the protection of security organs,” Mbowe said. “There is no other language we can use for what is happening except rape of democracy.”

In his remarks, Mbowe highlighted that the party had made considerable progress in local government elections before the botched 2019 polls. He pointed out that CHADEMA once held 980 street chairperson positions—25 percent of all streets nationwide—1,754 village chairperson positions (18%), and leadership in 9,145 sub-villages. The party also led 24 local councils across the country.

In his report, Mbowe explained in 12,280 villages they have been left with 4,175 candidates equivalent to 34 percent, in 4,265 streets they have been left with 2,686 candidates equivalent to 63 percent of all candidates at the street level. At sub-village/hamlet where there are 63,886 positions, they were left with only 14,805 candidates, equivalent to 31 percent.  In all these levels, the party has 33.2 percent of candidates for chairperson for streets, villages, and hamlets. Overall, the party managed to field 33.2% of candidates for chairperson positions in streets, villages, and hamlets.

“In cities and towns, we aimed to place candidates for the chairperson position in 85% of areas, but this has been reduced [through disqualification] to 63 percent. In villages, we targeted 60 percent, but we are now at 34 percent. For hamlets, we aimed for 50 percent, but this has dropped to 31 percent,” Mbowe reported.

In his report to the press on November 16, 2024, the Minister of the President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government Tanzania (PO-RALG), Mohamed Mchengerwa said while all parties responded well in placing candidates, CCM was the only party out of the nineteen registered parties that managed to field 100 percent of candidates in all positions.

“For the position of village chairperson, a total of 12,280 positions are being contested. Across 18 political parties, candidates have been fielded for 6,060 positions, representing 49.35% of the total,” Mchengerwa said about the opposition party’s statistics.

He continued: “For the position of street chairperson, 4,264 positions are being contested, with 18 political parties fielding candidates for 3,281 positions, equivalent to 76.94% of the total. For the position of sub-village chairperson, 63,886 positions are being contested, with candidates fielded by 18 political parties in 21,636 positions, accounting for 33.87% of the total.”

Mchengerwa went on to explain out of the 80,430 top positions (Chairpersonship) for local government election, opposition parties were able to field 30,977 candidates which makes up about 38.51 percent.

Mbowe criticized the disqualification of CHADEMA’s candidates, likening it to chaining someone who is already on the ground, citing the opposition’s limited capacity to place candidates in the vast local government election compared to the ruling party.

However, the party maintains that it has no plan to withdraw from the election, as it has been planning for a while.

“In 2019, we withdrew from that [local government] election after more than 90% of our candidates were being disqualified. We consulted and decided to withdraw. This time, we are not withdrawing. We will go with them steadily until we reach our destination,” Mbowe insisted.

Zonal leadership autonomy

Mbowe stressed that the party’s national leadership would not implement a centralized strategy to address challenges faced by candidates at the grassroots level. Instead, CHADEMA is pushing for greater autonomy for its zonal leadership to make decisions based on local circumstances.

“The national leadership can’t give you directives on what to do; there are over 63,000 sub-villages. You should not wait for Mbowe or the party headquarters to speak. This election is about your life—take action,” Mbowe urged.

“You should not wait for a directive from the top leadership. We have already directed that you assess your environment. If you’re dissatisfied with the injustice there, seek justice,” he continued.

CHADEMA has divided its leadership into eight zones on the Tanzanian mainland and two zones in Zanzibar. Analysts within the party argue that this approach is the most effective way to respond to the challenging political environment.

“Decentralized strategies allow the party to adapt to the specific terrain of local areas. Experience shows that national strategies often encounter challenges, such as recent demonstrations and the Mbeya conference, where all leaders were arrested,” said Dr. Azaveli Lwaitama, a member of CHADEMA’s Board of Trustees, during an interview with The Chanzo on November 12, 2024.

“Localized strategies increase unpredictability, making it harder for authorities to suppress party activities. This approach is more effective at the local level than at the national level,” Lwaitama added.

He emphasized that decentralization is the best strategy for the party to navigate difficulties in the current political landscape.

Recent actions by CHADEMA’s zonal leadership highlight the decentralized approach. In the Dar es Salaam zone, led by Boniface Jacob, where the party says 90% of candidates were disqualified, leaders took action by occupying the offices of District Administrative Secretaries in various regions. These actions occurred in Ubungo, Kinondoni, and Ilala on November 19, 2024.

During one such incident, the party’s zonal leadership reported that seven members, who were at district offices appealing the disqualifications, were arrested by police.