Tanzania Opposition Party (CHADEMA) Barred from October Polls
Tanzania’s main opposition party Chama Cha Demokrasia na Mageuzi (CHADEMA) has been barred from participating in this year’s election. This comes days after its leader Tundu Lissu was charged with treason.
Ramadhani Kailima, director of elections at the Independent National Elections Commission, said that Chadema had failed to sign a code of conduct document that was due on Saturday, meaning the party was disqualified from October’s elections.
Tundu Lissu Arrest and CHADEMA Barring
Last week, Chadema’s leader Tundu Lissu was arrested and charged with treason after holding a rally in southern Tanzania calling for electoral reforms.
The latest developments put the CCM party at a prime position to retain power in the October polls. The party has governed the United Republic of Tanzania since 1977.
According to Mr Kilima any party that did not sign the code of conduct will not participate in the general elections adding that Chadema would also be banned from taking part in any by-elections until 2030.
Also Read: Reik Machar and Wife Arrested by South Sudan government.
Chadema had earlier said that it would not participate in a code of conduct signing ceremony, as part of its bargain for electoral reforms.
Tanzania is set to vote in parliamentary and presidential elections. This where Lissu was expected to challenge incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
When Hassan first came to power in 2021, after the death of her predecessor John Magufuli. She was praised for reversing some of his more authoritarian tendencies.
Campaigners and opposition parties have since accused Hassan’s government of an intensifying crackdown on political opponents, citing arrests and abductions of opposition members. The government has denied the accusations and launched an investigation into the abductions.
Reasons for His Arrest
Under the slogan “No Reforms, No Election”, Lissu has argued that there was no possibility of free and fair elections. He is championing for changes on how elections are run in Tanzania.
Lissu said that the constitution of the electoral commission needed to change and should not include people directly appointed by the President.
Authorities accuse Lissu of seeking to disrupt the election and incite a rebellion.
He has been remanded in custody and his treason case adjourned until 24 April. His lawyer, Rugemeleza Nshala, said that the charges against Lissu were politically motivated. Further, adding: “You cannot separate these charges from politics.”
Tundu Lissu Shooting, Exile, and CHADEMA Association
The opposition leader has been arrested on numerous occasions and in 2017 survived an assassination attempt. This is when his vehicle was shot 16 times.
He then went into exile, returning briefly in 2020 to run against Magufuli in that year’s election. He left after the results were announced, citing electoral malpractices by the state.
