Campaign season has officially started in Tanzania ahead of the country’s October 28 general elections, with incumbent president and second term aspirant, President John Magufuli, facing a total of 14 other presidential hopefuls in the upcoming polls.
The ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), launched its campaign and manifesto on Saturday in Dodoma. However, it was Magufuli who got the ball rolling at his campaign rally on Tuesday the 1st of September, where he promised to boost the country’s GDP, expand the tourism sector, create jobs for eight million Tanzanians still struggling to move up from the labour market and complete several projects aimed at making Tanzania “a great nation.”
Opposition Numbers Rise
Magufuli is also set to go against a record number of candidates vying for the presidential seat in October.
While 17 aspirants had collected nomination forms from the National Electoral Commission (NEC), the Commission cleared 15 candidates for the country’s top position including Magufuli. Among them are Leopold Mahona (NRA), John Shibuda (ADA-Tadea), Mutamwega Mgaywa (SAU), Jeremiah Magan-Ja (NCCR), Cecilia Mbaga (DM), Prof Ibrahim Lipumba (CUF) and Philipo Fumbo (DP).
Others are Mr Bernard Membe (ACT-Wazalendo), Ms Queen Sendiga (ADC), Mr Hashim Rungwe (Chaum- ma), Mr Khalfan Mazrui (UMD), Mr Seif Maalim Seif (AAFP), Mr Twalib Kadege (UPDP) and Mr Tundu Lissu (Chadema).
Two candidates, Maisha Mapya Muchunguzi of NLD and David Mwaijojele of CCK, were disqualified from the race for missing the Commission’s deadline and failing to submit signatures on their forms, respectively.
Tanzania Political Campaign Ban Lifted
With campaigns in full swing, it spells the end of a four-year blanket ban on political activities instituted by Magufuli’s administration in 2016, which banned political activities, including rallies, and limited politicians to their respective constituencies.
Tanzania is also one of the countries with lax Coronavirus regulations with President Magufuli declaring the pandemic over because of fasting and prayers.
“We are now okay,” Magufuli told the crowd in Dodoma on 29 August, “Our children are going to school and coming back home safely. Sports activities are going on. Musicians are playing. All meetings are going on…including marriages.”
