ACT maps out strategies ahead of General Election

Dar es Salaam. The opposition party, ACT-Wazalendo, has unveiled its strategies for the upcoming General Election, with a clear focus on securing 50 constituencies on the mainland and gaining more seats in Zanzibar.

Aside from preparing for the polls, ACT-Wazalendo is actively monitoring over 50 cases related to local government elections, viewing the legal action as part of its broader political strategy.

Speaking to The Citizen yesterday, the party’s Deputy Chairman for the mainland, Mr Issihaka Mchinjita, expressed confidence in their ability to win key constituencies, thanks to their growing membership and strategic planning.

“Our party was formed from various opposition groups, so we understand the system well. If the election is free and fair, we anticipate winning 50 constituencies on the mainland and 30 in Zanzibar, including both constituencies and representatives,” he said. Currently, ACT-Wazalendo has registered over one million new members electronically, alongside more than three million manually. The party’s ambitious goal is to reach ten million members by the end of this year.

The Vice Chairman of the  ACT-Wazalendo Party, Mr Isihaka Mchinjita, speaks when interviewed  by the journalists of Mwananchi Communications Ltd in Dar es Salaam recently. PHOTO | Edwin Mjwahuzi

Addressing the ongoing legal cases, Mr Mchinjita emphasised that the party is dissatisfied with the current system of ballot paper tenders and is monitoring the situation closely.

“We view these court cases as a critical part of our strategy. There are over 51 cases already in court, and we expect them to be concluded by March,” he said.

The party is particularly focused on the ballot paper issues that arose during the 2020 polls and the most recent local elections, where discarded ballots were found in the streets. If the party succeeds in these cases, they plan to file another petition at the High Court to reform the tendering system to be transparent and given to the appropriate company.

Another key aspect of their strategy revolves around Zanzibar, where there are no local government elections. ACT-Wazalendo plans to closely monitor the voter registration process at centres, as the party believes that election rigging often begins at this early stage.

“We expect all ACT-Wazalendo leaders to embark on nationwide mobilisation tours soon, advocating electoral reforms and a transparent election process,” he said.

In terms of regional strategy, ACT-Wazalendo is positioning itself strongly in several zones across the country. In the Western Zone, including Kigoma Urban, Kigoma North, and Kigoma South, the party is confident of victory.

Similarly, in Tabora, the party expects to win in districts like Kaliua and Urambo. The Coastal Zone is also promising, with Mafia, Mkuranga, and Rufiji among the districts that ACT-Wazalendo targets. In Dar es Salaam, the party is optimistic about districts such as Mbagala, Temeke, and Kinondoni, while in the Northern Zone, Tanga Urban and Pangani are key areas for the party.

The Vice Chairman of the  ACT-Wazalendo Party, Mr Isihaka Mchinjita, speaks when interviewed  by the journalists of Mwananchi Communications Ltd in Dar es Salaam recently. PHOTO | Edwin Mjwahuzi

In Lindi, ACT-Wazalendo is confident of securing wins in six districts, including Kilwa North, Kilwa South, Nchinga, Lindi Rural, Liwale, and Ruangwa. In Ruvuma, particularly in the Selous region, the party is targeting districts like Namtumbo, Tunduru North, and Tunduru South. “If the election is free and fair, we are confident of winning 50 constituencies on the mainland,” he said.

In Zanzibar, where there are 50 constituencies, the party aims to win 30 seats, provided the electoral process remains transparent and equitable.

As the party prepares for the upcoming elections, ACT-Wazalendo remains resolute in its commitment to fair elections and political change, positioning itself as a strong contender for the future of Tanzania.