Tanzania names eight new constituencies ahead of 2025 General Election
What you need to know:
- The changes follow a stakeholder consultation process that ran from 26 February to 2 March 2025, during which the Commission received 34 requests for the division of constituencies
Dodoma. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the creation of eight new parliamentary constituencies, bringing the total number of constituencies for the 2025 General Election to 272.
In addition, INEC has introduced five new wards, raising the total number of wards where the election will be conducted to 3,960.
According to INEC Chairperson, Court of Appeal Judge Jacobs Mwambegele, the changes follow a stakeholder consultation process that ran from 26 February to 2 March 2025, during which the Commission received 34 requests for the division of constituencies and 10 proposals to change constituency names.
“After receiving the requests, the Commission conducted visits and held meetings with stakeholders in several of the constituencies proposed for division or name changes to verify the accuracy of the information submitted,” said Judge Mwambegele.
He said the Commission considered four key criteria, including population size—set at 600,000 for urban constituencies and 400,000 for rural ones—Parliament’s current seating capacity, the allocation of special seats for women MPs, and the requirement that no constituency span more than one local government authority.
Following this review, the Commission approved the creation of the following eight new constituencies whereby in Dar es Salaam Region, Ukonga has been split to form Kivule, and Mbagala has been divided to create Chamazi.
In Dodoma Region, Dodoma Urban has been split to form Mtumba while in Mbeya Region, Mbeya Urban has been divided to form Uyole. In Simiyu Region, Bariadi has been split to establish Bariadi Urban. In Geita Region, Busanda has been divided to form Katoro, while Chato has been split to establish Chato South. In Shinyanga Region, Solwa has been split to form Itwangi.
In addition to the newly established constituencies, the Commission has renamed 12 existing constituencies. Judge Mwambegele said the changes were intended to reflect administrative developments and align with the current territorial landscape.
The renamed constituencies include: Chato (Geita) now becomes Chato North while Nkenge (Kagera) is renamed Missenyi. Mpanda Rural (Katavi) will now be called Tanganyika while Buyungu (Kigoma) has been renamed Kakongo. Bariadi (Simiyu) is now Bariadi Rural. In Singida Region, five constituencies have been renamed whereby Manyoni East is now Manyoni; Singida North becomes Ilongero; Manyoni West becomes Itigi; Singida East is now Ikungi East and Singida West becomes Ikungi West.
Tabora North is now called Uyui while Handeni Rural (Tanga) is now simply Handeni.
On the ward level, five new wards have been created: Ngerenyani and Sinonik (in Longido District, Arusha Region), and Mupi, Bwawani Urban, and Shera (in Rufiji District, Coast Region). These were established by the Minister for Regional Administration and Local Government.
“I urge citizens to take note of these changes in electoral boundaries so they can fully exercise their constitutional right to vote and to stand for office on polling day,” Judge Mwambegele said.
He also called on all eligible voters in the remaining 16 regions to participate in the second phase of updating the Permanent Voter Register, verify their information during the public display of preliminary registers at registration centres, and prepare accordingly for the 2025 General Election.
Of the 272 constituencies, 222 are on the Mainland, while 50 are in Zanzibar. The revised list of constituencies will be published in the Government Gazette.
