Tanzania opposition parties’ disunity an obstacle to democracy growth, prosperity

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania's opposition parties' lack of unity is a significant obstacle to the growth of democracy and prosperity in the country.

Recently, Chadema, the main opposition party, organised a peaceful demonstration to demand a new constitution and an independent electoral commission.

However, some opposition parties opposed it, claiming that each party has its own methods of political advocacy and struggles.

During a press conference held in the country’s administrative capital, Dodoma, six opposition political party chairpersons strongly opposed the demonstration organised by Chadema to further demand the new constitution and the independent electoral commission.

The opposition political parties are ACT Wazalendo, Civic United Front (CUF), NCCR Mageuzi, Demokrasia Makini, the Alliance for African Farmers Party (AAFP) and the Alliance for Democratic Change (ADC).

The opposition parties’ decision negatively affects the country’s democratisation efforts, which require strengthened unity and cooperation not only among political parties but with all other stakeholders.

The demonstration also aimed at opposing electoral bills that were tabled in Parliament in November last year due to a failure to accommodate key issues that would make elections free, fair and credible.

“However, we still recognise the importance of dialogue. We haven’t rejected a roundtable discussion. We want to talk while we demonstrate,” said Chadema national chairman Freeman Mbowe after the demonstration.

The unity among opposition political parties was significant during the demonstrations because the success of creating a fair political playing field would benefit all players.

For instance, in 2015, Chadema, CUF, NCCR-Mageuzi, and the National League for Democracy (NLD) cooperated through the Coalition of Defenders of the People's Constitution, famously known as Ukawa.

The collaboration enabled the opposition to field a single presidential candidate, Edward Lowassa, who garnered over six million votes, which is equivalent to 40 percent of all cast votes.

Chadema also increased the number of parliamentarians from 24 percent recorded in 2010 to 32 percent in 2015, while CUF managed to collect 32 seats—eight more as compared to 2010, while CUF, which was affected by internal disputes, recorded a drop in the number of lawmakers.

That was possible because Ukawa members agreed on which political party should field a candidate in a certain constituency, something that prohibited the opposition from dividing votes among themselves.

However, instead of broadening cooperation, opposition political parties have shown that they have a reason to do away with selfishness to efficiently face the ruling CCM in the power struggle.

Reactions from political parties

Speaking to The Citizen on January 26, 2024, Chadema’s director of foreign affairs, protocol, and communication, John Mrema, said division proves the presence of selfishness among opposition political parties.

“The majority of them lack physical offices, flags and membership cards. Its leaders are there for personal gain,” he said.

NCCR-Mageuzi vice chairman Joseph Selasini rejected the idea, saying opposition parties are united through the Political Parties Council (PPC), through which they submit their opinion on required amendments to electoral bills.

"However, Chadema’s demonstration aimed at showing that the opinions of opposition political parties and the general public have been ignored, which isn’t the case,” he elaborated.

Furthermore, he said Chadema’s demonstrations were conducted prematurely because they had been organised shortly after the Parliamentary Committee on Governance, Constitution and Legal Affairs had just concluded collecting stakeholder’s opinions about the bills.

“No feedback has been communicated about picked and rejected opinions. It was difficult for us to support the demonstration to put records correct after reports said opposition political parties were not involved in the preparation of electoral bills,” he said.

ACT- Wazalendo secretary general Ado Shaibu said Chadema’s demonstration was an internal movement that didn't require cooperation.

"Chadema has a constitutional right to demonstrate. However, ACT-Wazalendo has suspended Dodoma regional chairperson Yohana Mussa for his role in the provision of negative comments against Chadema’s demonstration plan,” he said, adding that party policies prohibit opposing the justice movements organised by other political parties.

“Tomorrow (Saturday), the party's Central Committee will hold its evaluation meeting on the tabled electoral bills and come up with appropriate measures,” he added.

He said, believing in the cooperation, ACT-Wazalendo stands to cooperate in the future, especially in the demands for an independent electoral commission and a new constitution.

What experts say

A political analyst and Locus Attorneys managing partner, Dr Onesmo Kyauke, said the decision made by some opposition political parties revealed a huge weakness among opposition political parties in the country.

“Opposition political parties are supposed to unite in order to be powerful in advocating for the people’s rights and making changes that will positively impact the country at large,” he said.

“What has happened proves claims that some opposition political parties have been there for personal gain and weakening the opposition,” he added.

He said making a public announcement to distance from demonstrations was aimed at affecting the turnout, despite being among the struggle beneficiaries.

Furthermore, he said the ruling CCM cannot create environments that will affect the smooth win of elections, emphasising that collective efforts are required for electoral process transformations.

The University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) political science lecturer, Dr Richard Mbunda, said selfishness among leaders of some opposition political parties was a challenge.

“Some would like to be remembered by the government in power in the appointments to serve in different capacities,” he said, adding that was the reason for the opposition parties’ failure to hold the government accountable on different issues.

"No real opposition party will publicly oppose demonstrations organised by another to advocate for free, fair and credible elections. The one doing so has a hidden agenda to sabotage the opposition,” he added.

For his part, the University of Dodoma (Udom) political science lecturer, Dr Paul Loisulie, blamed large political parties, including Chadema, ACT-Wazalendo, NCCR-Mageuzi and CUF, for the lack of cooperation.

He said that having consolidated their base at the grassroots level, they consider themselves capable of working individually without cooperating with others that are considered to be small parties.

“They considered the minorities. Hence, they are trying to do everything possible to attract the attention of stakeholders as well as their presence. However, this builds a negative picture of weakness among opposition political parties,” he said.