Latest news with #TanzaniaElections
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tanzanian PM to step down in surprise move
Tanzania's Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa has announced that he will not seek re-election in the forthcoming parliamentary elections, effectively preventing him from being re-appointed. Majaliwa had earlier said that he would defend his legislative seat for a fourth time in October before making the surprise announcement on Wednesday. The 64-year-old was appointed prime minister in 2015 and was seen as a possible successor of the late President John Magufuli after his death in 2021. He has continued to hold the position under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is seeking to retain the presidency under the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). Majaliwa, who has represented the coastal Ruangwa region since 2010, said his decision was guided by God and he had made it "in good faith". "It is time to give others the opportunity to unite and build on the development foundation we've established," said Majaliwa, without elaborating on his reasons to pull out from the elections. It comes just a week after Majaliwa said that he would seek another term in parliament. Why Samia's hesitant reforms are fuelling Tanzanian political anger Could this be the end of the road for Tanzania's great survivor? He also told Ruangwa residents last September that he would run again, with his unexpected withdrawal sparking speculation of a power struggle within the ruling party. Majaliwa said he would continue serving as a senior CCM official and support Samia's presidential bid. In Tanzania, the prime minister leads the government business in parliament and is appointed by the president from among the elected MPs. Seen as a quiet but firm leader, Majaliwa is credited with ensuring a smooth and calm political transition after Magufuli's death. The former teacher rose to become an influential figure within the CCM party, which has governed Tanzania since 1977. He served as a junior minister under former President Jakaya Kikwete. His exit follows that of Vice-President Philip Mpango, who in May announced his retirement from politics. Analysts say the withdrawal of the two senior politicians gives President Samia space to consolidate her control of CCM and craft her second-term leadership line-up. The country is due to vote in parliamentary and presidential elections, with CCM expected to retain power. The main opposition party, Chadema, has been banned for refusing to sign up to a code of ethics because it wants a series of electoral reforms. Initially praised for easing the restrictions Magufuli had imposed on the opposition and the media, Samia has been criticised for what rights groups see as renewed repression. She took up power in 2021 after Magufuli's death, becoming the country's first female president. Senior Chadema politicians have been arrested and several opposition figures abducted and murdered. Samia's government defends the crackdown on opposition as a move to ensure peace in the country. Additional reporting by Alfred Lasteck in Dar es Salaam Are East African governments uniting to silence dissent? 'Struggling to be alive': Kenyan activist speaks of 'sexual torture' in Tanzania Kenyan president apologises to Tanzania over deportation row 'Manhandled and choked' - Tanzanian activist recounts abduction Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
03-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Kassim Majaliwa: Tanzanian prime minister steps down from October elections
Tanzania's Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa has announced that he will not seek re-election in the forthcoming parliamentary elections, effectively preventing him from being re-appointed. Majaliwa had earlier said that he would defend his legislative seat for a fourth time in October before making the surprise announcement on Wednesday. The 64-year-old was appointed prime minister in 2015 and was seen as a possible successor of the late President John Magufuli after his death in 2021. He has continued to hold the position under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is seeking to retain the presidency under the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). Majaliwa, who has represented the coastal Ruangwa region since 2010, said his decision was guided by God and he had made it "in good faith". "It is time to give others the opportunity to unite and build on the development foundation we've established," said Majaliwa, without elaborating on his reasons to pull out from the elections. It comes just a week after Majaliwa said that he would seek another term in parliament. Why Samia's hesitant reforms are fuelling Tanzanian political angerCould this be the end of the road for Tanzania's great survivor?He also told Ruangwa residents last September that he would run again, with his unexpected withdrawal sparking speculation of a power struggle within the ruling party. Majaliwa said he would continue serving as a senior CCM official and support Samia's presidential bid. In Tanzania, the prime minister leads the government business in parliament and is appointed by the president from among the elected MPs. Seen as a quiet but firm leader, Majaliwa is credited with ensuring a smooth and calm political transition after Magufuli's death. The former teacher rose to become an influential figure within the CCM party, which has governed Tanzania since 1977. He served as a junior minister under former President Jakaya exit follows that of Vice-President Philip Mpango, who in May announced his retirement from politics. Analysts say the withdrawal of the two senior politicians gives President Samia space to consolidate her control of CCM and craft her second-term leadership country is due to vote in parliamentary and presidential elections, with CCM expected to retain power. The main opposition party, Chadema, has been banned for refusing to sign up to a code of ethics because it wants a series of electoral reforms. Initially praised for easing the restrictions Magufuli had imposed on the opposition and the media, Samia has been criticised for what rights groups see as renewed repression. She took up power in 2021 after Magufuli's death, becoming the country's first female president. Senior Chadema politicians have been arrested and several opposition figures abducted and murdered. Samia's government defends the crackdown on opposition as a move to ensure peace in the country. Additional reporting by Alfred Lasteck in Dar es Salaam You may also be interested in: Are East African governments uniting to silence dissent?'Struggling to be alive': Kenyan activist speaks of 'sexual torture' in TanzaniaKenyan president apologises to Tanzania over deportation row'Manhandled and choked' - Tanzanian activist recounts abduction Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Associated Press
03-06-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Tanzanian MP's church shut down after he accuses government of human rights abuses
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Tanzania n authorities deregistered a church owned by a ruling party MP after he accused the government of human rights violations ahead of October elections. MP Josephat Gwajima's Glory of Christ church in the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, was cordoned off by police Tuesday after hundreds of congregants turned up to protest the closure announcement. Tanzania's registrar of societies wrote a letter deregistering Gwajima's church, saying his sermons were in contravention of acceptable conduct of religious organizations. The MP last Sunday called out the government for what he called detentions and enforced disappearances warning his congregants to be wary. His message came days after a Kenyan activist and his Ugandan counterpart accused the Tanzanian police of detaining and torturing them after arresting them ahead of opposition leader Tundu Lissu's treason case court proceedings. Tanzanians are set to elect a president and MPs in October and the ruling party, the CCM, has been in power since Tanzania's independence in 1961. The main opposition party, Chadema, has been calling for electoral reforms ahead of the elections. Gwajima was elected in 2020 after he was endorsed by then-President John Magufuli. His popularity has risen over the years and he is seen as an outspoken critic of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is serving out Magufuli's term after he died in office. Hassan is running in the upcoming October election and has been accused of silencing her critics after opposition leaders were arrested in recent months. She struck a reconciliatory tone during her first days in office and lifted a six-year ban on political rallies that was imposed by Magufuli. Hassan's tone has in recent months changed as she warned foreign activists coming to Tanzania for the opposition leader's court case saying she will not allow them to destroy the country. Some activists were deported to Kenya on arrival in Tanzania and the Tanzanian government did not explain the reasons for deportation. Rights groups including Amnesty International have urged Tanzania to investigate the human rights abuse allegations against activists.
Mail & Guardian
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Mail & Guardian
Road to Tanzania's presidential election paved with blood and fear
(Alinanuswe Mwanguku/AFP) Last month, on the day Pope Francis died, the most senior Catholic priest in Tanzania was fighting for his own life. Father Charles Kitima, the secretary-general of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference, was in the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam. He had been assaulted the night before. The attack occurred inside the national headquarters of the Catholic Church, where Father Kitima resides. The attackers did not identify themselves but clearly intended to cause grievous harm; sources said the priest was struck forcefully in the head with a blunt object. According to local publication The Chanzo , the attack happened hours after a recording of him went viral on social media, in which he criticised 'lawlessness' ahead of the presidential election. Father Kitima remains in hospital. Police have arrested one suspect and confirmed that investigations are ongoing. The attack conforms to a troubling pattern. In recent months, there has been a spate of abductions, assaults, arrests and murders in Tanzania. Father Charles Kitima was attacked after condemning lawlessness ahead of the elections. The victims seem to have one thing in common: they are all opponents or critics of the government of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is running for election in October. This campaign of intimidation is so crude that, on Thursday, the European parliament passed a resolution urging 'Tanzanian authorities to end the escalating crackdown … against opposition members, human rights defenders, indigenous peoples, LGBTQIA+ activists, journalists and civil society organisations, and to independently investigate police abuses and enforced disappearances'. In a statement, Tanzania's foreign ministry rejected the findings of the European parliament, saying it was based on 'incomplete or partisan information' that 'misrepresents the situation on the ground'. Opposition in the cross-hairs It is an especially dangerous time to be associated with Chadema, the largest opposition party, whose leader Tundu Lissu was arrested in April while speaking at a public rally in Songea. From there, he was transported 13 hours by road to Dar es Salaam, and charged on two counts, including treason — which carries the death penalty — for allegedly inciting people to obstruct the upcoming election. On the day that Lissu was charged, several of his supporters were arrested, beaten and injured as they tried to make their way to the Kisutu Resident magistrate's court. In another incident, a well-known party member in Mbeya, Mpaluka Nyagali, popularly known as Mdude, was abducted from his home in the middle of the night last week. He is still missing. There have been reports of other party members who have been abducted or arrested, in some instances with reports of involvement from state security officials. Arrested: Tundu Lissu, leader of Tanzania's main opposition party, Chadema. (Eric Boniphace/AFP) 'The country is not safe,' said Boniface Mwabukusi, the president of the Tanganyika Law Society, in response to Mdude's abduction. Mwabukusi alleged that it was police officers who assaulted Mdude before forcibly abducting him. 'This is yet another disturbing incident that adds to the growing concerns over public safety.' Tanzania's police inspector-general, Camillus Wambura, did not respond to a request for comment . Another incident that shocked the nation involved the abduction and murder of Chadema secretariat member Ali Mohamed Kibao last September. He was forcibly removed from a public bus in Tegeta, Dar es Salaam, while travelling to Tanga. His body was discovered the next day in the capital's Ununio area, bearing signs of torture and acid burns. Cut from the same cloth: President Samia Suluhu Hassan, once hailed as a reformer, has fallen into the repressive habits of her predecessor. (Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters) Growth at what cost? Samia succeeded John Magufuli after his death in office in 2021. She was deputy president at the time. She immediately reversed her predecessor's Covid denialism, earning an instant popularity boost. She has also overseen some of the most impressive economic growth in Africa (GDP growth was 5.7% in 2024, according to the African Development Bank, and is set to surpass that this year). But several corruption scandals have contributed to a perception that this growth is not being evenly distributed, while democratic space has continued to shrink under her watch. In its annual Freedom in the World Index, Freedom House downgraded Tanzania to 'not free' (from 'partly free' in 2024). Some within the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party — which has governed Tanzania since independence in 1961 — are concerned that these factors could contribute to a poor showing in October's presidential election. This may explain the crackdown against opposition party members, and the recent decision by the electoral commission to disqualify Chadema from that election. The commission said Chadema had not signed an electoral code of conduct. Chadema has previously said that it will boycott the vote in the absence of meaningful electoral reforms. The Institute for Security Studies, a South Africa-based think tank, wrote in an analysis that Tanzania's troubles are symptomatic of a worrying regional trend. 'Democracy is in bad shape in East Africa and seems to be getting worse. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan's political reforms after she succeeded the authoritarian John Magufuli in 2021 raised a glimmer of hope — but she now seems to have regressed.' This article first appeared in The Continent , the pan-African weekly newspaper produced in partnership with the Mail & Guardian . It's designed to be read and shared on WhatsApp. Download your free copy
