As polls draw closer, what is ailing Tanzania’s opposition?

Across the country, the opposition has fielded candidates in just 5,879 villages out of a total of 12,274 villages.

Read: What political parties want before 2025 General Election

Furthermore, in 63,863 hamlets, opposition parties have only managed to nominate 20,000 candidates. These figures suggest a dire situation for the opposition, struggling to find candidates even in urban areas, which are traditionally viewed as their strongholds.

The figures indicate that the ruling party candidates will go unopposed by 23.7 percent in urban streets, 52 percent and 69 percent in villages and hamlets.

This raises a pressing question: Are opposition parties in such a weakened state that they cannot secure candidates even in urban areas? Analysts and opposition party members interviewed by The Citizen point to several challenges contributing to this troubling trend.

Foremost among these issues is a significant level of mistrust among the opposition parties themselves. This internal division creates an environment in which CCM can easily capitalise on their weaknesses, further consolidating its power in the upcoming elections.

In response to this, The Citizen reached out to leaders of opposition parties in the country to provide their perspectives on the issue.

ACT-Wazalendo leader Dorothy Semu criticised the current political environment, which she believes discourages potential candidates.

“We’ve worked hard to prepare candidates nationwide, but the system doesn’t encourage participation,” she said.

She emphasised that opposition parties face unique hurdles, with restrictions that create an uneven playing field.

“Structural reforms are needed to foster a genuine democracy,” she argued.

Ms Semu stressed the importance of a system that facilitates participation and protects candidates’ rights, but for opposition parties, the barriers often outweigh the support.

CUF’s Mohamed Ngulangwa echoed Semu’s sentiments, highlighting how restrictive conditions and a political culture resistant to opposition growth hinder their efforts.

“We operate in a challenging political landscape. The system discourages candidates, limiting fair competition,” Mr Ngulangwa said.

He called for transparent reforms to ensure a level playing field for all political players, asserting that opposition candidates must have equal opportunities to campaign without facing systemic obstacles.

On top of that, Chadema’s Deputy Secretary-General (Mainland), Mr Benson Kigaila, raised concerns about CCM’s interference in opposition growth.

“CCM has consistently blocked our efforts to establish a stronger political presence,” he said.

Read: Tanzania’s election laws make it hard to build political opposition – what needs to change

He stressed the challenges opposition parties face in the political landscape, further compounding their struggle for influence and representation.

On the other hand, NCCR-Mageuzi’s Vice Chairman, Mr Joseph Selasini, spoke on the resource gap between CCM and opposition parties. “CCM, with its historical legacy and resources, can reach every corner of the country. Since multi-party politics began in 1992, CCM’s financial advantage has been overwhelming,” he explained.

Mr Selasini added that running a political party is expensive, and the opposition is at a significant disadvantage.

He also criticised the financial struggles within opposition parties.

“Democracy requires fair elections, but opposition leaders often fund campaigns from their own pockets, while supporters fear government retribution,” he said.

He noted the lack of internal unity among opposition parties, which further weakens their ability to challenge CCM effectively.

"For democracy to thrive, opposition must unite," Mr Selasini noted.

To broaden the discussion, The Citizen spoke with various political analysts, who highlighted both historical and systemic factors contributing to CCM's dominance and the opposition’s struggles.

A political analyst from the Open University of Tanzania, Dr Revocatus Kabobe, noted that CCM’s roots in local government and rural areas were established long before the introduction of multiparty politics in Tanzania.

“Since independence, CCM has focused on building a presence in every corner of the country, particularly in rural areas where a majority of Tanzanians live. This legacy gives them a substantial advantage in mobilizing support,” he said.

He added that despite democratic reforms, the political landscape remains skewed in favour of the ruling party, making it challenging for opposition parties to establish a strong foothold, especially in rural regions.

Read: Do we need more political parties?

Another political scientist from the University of Dodoma (UDOM), Dr Paul Loisulie, also commented on the harsh environment facing opposition parties, emphasizing that structural and regulatory challenges persist.

“Opposition parties continue to face barriers in the electoral process and often lack equal access to resources, which hinders their ability to compete fairly,” he said.

According to Dr Loisulie, these systemic limitations are compounded by internal discord among opposition groups, who frequently struggle to unify around common goals.

“Without a united front, it’s difficult to counter CCM’s well-established dominance, which is deeply embedded in both political and economic structures,” he added.

Law lecturer and political analyst from University of Dar es Salaam, Dr Onesmo Kyauke, highlighted the impact of CCM's extensive resources and influence, which he argued create an uneven playing field.

“CCM’s significant wealth and established networks make it nearly impossible for opposition parties to match its influence,” Dr Kyauke observed.

He pointed out that this financial advantage enables CCM to reach voters more effectively, while opposition parties lack similar capacity and often depend on limited public support.

“Moreover, distrust among opposition leaders weakens their collective strength, leaving them ill-prepared to challenge CCM's dominance,” he noted.