In a surprising reversal, Tanzania’s electoral commission has disqualified Luhaga Mpina, the head of the country’s second-largest opposition party, for the second time. The decision comes just days after a separate ruling had briefly cleared his nomination, only to be overturned in a new development that reshapes the presidential contest.
Mpina’s disqualification clears the path for incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who now appears poised for an unchallenged run into the upcoming vote. The controversy further complicates a political landscape already roiled by disputes over reform, accountability, and the integrity of the electoral process.
The ruling also wipes out participation by CHADEMA, the main opposition party that was banned in April after officials refused to sign the electoral code of conduct in protest against what they describe as a lack of reform. CHADEMA’s presidential hopeful, Tundu Lissu, remains detained since April on treason charges he denies, further constraining the opposition’s ability to contest the election.
As Tanzania heads toward polling day, observers warn that the last-minute disqualifications could heighten tensions and call into question the fairness of the electoral procedures, underscoring the tough road ahead for the country’s democratic aspirations.
The rights group activists such as the Amnesty International have expressed their disappointment on the kind of dictatorship ongoing in Tanzania, maintaining that unexplained abduction of President Suluhu’s critics point to a government crackdown ahead of the general election. Tanzanians and the world await what action Luhaga Mpina will take following his disqualification.
