The United States and opposition parties in Tanzania have called for reforms in the country’s Union Constitution and electoral laws. They have also asked for the reconstitution of the Tanzanian National Electoral Commission in order to guarantee free and fair elections when Tanzanians hit the polls in October.
While the elections will determine whether or not the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) will remain one of the longest-ruling parties on the continent, the John Magufuli-led government seems hesitant to effect any form of change before the elections.
A Promise of Free and Fair Polls
Following the highly criticised local government elections that saw the ruling party winning 99 per cent of the seats available, Tanzania’s President John Magufuli, in an attempt to quell fears of election rigging and voter suppression, promised that the country’s general elections would be “peaceful, free and fair.”
Speaking before an audience in Dar-es-Salaam that included foreign diplomats and senior UN officials in January, Magufuli reiterated his government’s dedication to the core values of democracy, calling on international observers and other stakeholders in the election process to witness a “mature” Tanzania.
Why President Magufuli Needs To Walk the Talk
Responding to the President’s statement of assurance, opposition parties have called on the President to implement change ahead of the election in a bid to support his promise of transparency and ensure peaceful polls in October.
An opposition party, Chadema, in a letter written to the president, asked him to intervene in key issues that would guarantee the credibility of the elections.
Revealing details of the letter sent out in January at a press conference on February 3, the National Party Chairman, Freeman Mbowe, called on the president to revoke results of the local government elections held in November, form a reconciliation team to rectify the current political climate in the country and see to the amendment of the constitution to ensure an “independent electoral commission” that isn’t answerable to the government, as the president can currently appoint or revoke the Commission’s leadership which puts it in an awkward position.
“Our country’s unity is deteriorating,” Mbowe wrote in a letter sent to Magufuli, which he read out to reporters last Monday.
These sentiments were partially echoed in a statement from the Tanzanian US Embassy: “We urge the rapid and transparent registration of voters, the creation of independent electoral commissions, and the early accreditation of credible long and short-term, national and international election observers.”
Government Rejects Talks of Reform
Coming forward to respond to the calls made by opposition parties, the Tanzanian government has rejected the idea of reforming the country’s electoral commission ahead of the general elections in October.
Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa responded in a statement saying: “The commission was set up in accordance with the constitution which enshrines its independence.”
Explaining the government’s stance further, he said: “The commission is independent and does not suffer from any interference in its functioning — neither from the president nor from any political party.”
Reputation as the “Bulldozer”
Resuming office in 2015, President John Magufuli has been known to attack detractors and opposition party members, earning him the nickname, “Bulldozer.”
Starting in 2016, the president banned political rallies and meetings. This was eventually followed with the arrest and conviction of several opposition members; a sedition court case against opposition party, Chadema; exiling vocal opposition figure, Tundu Lissu; attempting to silence the media using the Cybercrimes Act, Media Services Act and the Statistics Act; as well as the arrest of several journalists including Eric Kabendera of African Arguments.
