Tanzanian government rejects opposition party Chadema's call to postpone 2025 election

The Tanzanian government has announced that the General Election scheduled for October 2025 will proceed as planned, despite ongoing opposition from opposition party Chadema, which is campaigning for electoral reforms under its ‘No Reforms No Election’ movement.

Speaking in Dodoma during a meeting with members of NCCR-Mageuzi, Assistant Registrar of Political Parties Sisty Nyahoza warned that political efforts to obstruct the election would not succeed.

“The General Election of October 2025 will proceed regardless of the obstacles being set by some politicians,” Nyahoza said on Saturday, according to The Citizen.

His statement follows a meeting on March 18, 2025, between the registrar’s office, led by Judge Francis Mutungi and Chadema representatives to discuss the campaign’s implications under the Political Parties Act. Although the nearly four-hour discussion ended without a consensus, further engagements were promised.

Despite Nyahoza’s position, Chadema remains adamant that the election cannot go ahead without substantial electoral reforms.

Brenda Rupia, the party’s director of communications and publicity, reiterated Chadema’s stance.

“Our position remains unchanged. We presented our concerns to the registrar, and whether they agree with us or not, the election will not take place without reforms.”

She emphasised that their campaign is not about boycotting the election but seeking to prevent it from happening by engaging with stakeholders, with further details on their strategy to be revealed in due time.

Chadema Chairman Tundu Lissu also weighed in during a rally in Sumbawanga, Rukwa Region, stressing that one of their strategies would involve rejecting government initiatives.

“We will oppose everything proposed by the government. I have reviewed the country’s laws, and there is nothing that criminalises refusal to vote. The truth is, even under the current Constitution, an election can be postponed,” Lissu argued.

Firm position

In response, government officials have maintained their firm position.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Constitutional and Legal Affairs Eliakim Maswi said significant reforms have already been implemented.

Maswi emphasised that Chadema alone could not halt the election process, which involves multiple political parties and the electorate.

Senior Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) officials, including Secretary of Ideology and Publicity Amos Makalla and Vice Chairman for Tanzania Mainland Stephen Wasira, also dismissed Chadema’s campaign.

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• Tanzania
• chadema
• CCM
• Tanzania General Election
• Sisty Nyahoza
• NCCR-Mageuzi
• Tundu Lisu
• Tanzanian government rejects opposition party Chadema's call to postpone 2025 election
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Makalla argued that Chadema’s refusal to engage in the election suggested a reluctance to participate, which could diminish its status as the main opposition party.

Wasira, speaking at a rally in Kahama on March 27, 2025, asserted that elections could not be halted unless there was a war, the only condition under which the Constitution allows postponement.

“I hear they are travelling across the country. When they arrive in Kahama, listen to them and ask them how exactly they intend to stop an election. The constitution does not allow it,” Wasira said.

Meanwhile, NCCR-Mageuzi Vice Chairman Joseph Selasini distanced his party from Chadema’s campaign, noting that his party would not be misled into political alliances this time around.

He cited past betrayals during the UKAWA alliance, where coalition partners allegedly seized parliamentary seats that had been pre-allocated.

“We have been deceived before, and we will not fall for the ‘No Reforms No Election’ narrative again,” Selasini said, adding that NCCR-Mageuzi is determined to regain its political strength and enter the elections with renewed vigour.