Tanzania’s opposition party, Chadema, has accused the government of orchestrating electoral violence following the deaths of three of its members in incidents linked to the ongoing local elections.
Chadema chairman, Freeman Mbowe, announced on X (formerly Twitter) that one of their candidates, Modestus Timbisimilwa, was fatally shot by police in Dar es Salaam while trying to stop the delivery of “fake and invalid ballots” at a polling station.
Another candidate, George Juma Mohamed, was reportedly killed at his home in Mkese, central Tanzania, during a clash involving prison officers, according to police.
Authorities claimed the officers fired “warning shots” to disperse a conflict between supporters of Chadema and the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party.
A third party official, Steven Chalamila, was killed in a machete attack at his home in Tunduma, near the Zambian border.
Mbowe condemned the killings, stating, “The nation has once again witnessed blatant and shameful misconduct from all levels of the government authorities, colluding to secure disgraceful victories for the CCM and its candidates, even at the cost of Tanzanian lives.”
Chadema has also reported widespread beatings and arrests of its members, claiming these were efforts to prevent opposition candidates from challenging the use of fraudulent ballots.
An AFP journalist in Kigoma witnessed voter clashes over alleged fake ballots, which led to arrests.
“We believe these acts are being carried out with the directives and full blessings of [President Samia Suluhu Hassan] and her government,” Mbowe added.
The local elections, involving the election of over 80,000 leaders with significant influence, serve as a critical test for Tanzania’s democratic institutions ahead of the presidential election scheduled for October 2025.
Chadema’s Director of Communication and Foreign Affairs, John Mrema, emphasized the stakes, stating, “We are electing local leaders who are also important campaigners during the general election.”
The ruling CCM, which has dominated Tanzanian politics for decades, has faced accusations of suppressing opposition activities.
Many Chadema candidates were reportedly disqualified ahead of the polls, which the party claims was part of a systematic effort to undermine their chances.
President Hassan, who took office in 2021 following the death of her predecessor John Magufuli, initially received praise for relaxing restrictions on opposition groups and the media.
However, international rights groups and Western governments have expressed concerns about renewed repression, citing frequent arrests, abductions, and violence against opposition politicians.
Chadema boycotted the 2019 local elections over similar allegations of violence and intimidation, which led to a near-total sweep for the CCM.
