Tanzania's opposition party Chadema disqualified from 2025 election

The signing of the Election Code of Ethics, which comprises mutually agreed guidelines to be followed by all political parties intending to field candidates in the upcoming General Election, took place on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at the INEC headquarters in Dodoma.

Inside the venue, where party secretaries were assigned designated seats, Chadema Secretary General was scheduled to sit between the CHAUMMA and CCM secretary generals.

However, The Citizen, which witnessed the proceedings, observed that Chadema’s seat remained conspicuously empty, flanked on either side by CHAUMMA and CCM representatives—Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi and Mohamed Rashid, respectively.

All political parties with permanent registration attended the event and signed the Code of Ethics, formally committing to its content.

Also present were election stakeholders, including government officials and INEC representatives, working in collaboration with the participating parties.

As INEC Chairperson Court of Appeal Justice Jacobs Mwambegele, called upon each political party to publicly declare its stance, it was officially noted that Chadema had no representative present.

When questioned about the party’s absence, INEC Director of Elections Mr Athumani Kailima said that Chadema had been invited and contacted in advance.

He explained that Chadema Secretary General Mr John Mnyika had communicated the party’s decision not to attend the signing ceremony.

Mr Mnyika confirmed the boycott through a statement issued on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, writing: “I will not be present at the meeting scheduled for April 12, 2025, regarding consultations and the signing of the 2025 election code of conduct.”

He clarified that only the Secretary General is authorised to sign the Election Code of Conduct on behalf of a political party and stressed that he had not delegated any official to represent him at the event.

“It should be understood that the person with the authority to sign the election code of conduct on behalf of a political party is the Secretary General,” Mr Mnyika wrote.

He ended his message with the hashtag #NoReformsNoElection, highlighting the party’s ongoing call for meaningful electoral reforms.

Political parties that participated in the signing ceremony included ADC, Demokrasia Makini, DP, NRA, NLD, SAU, UDPD, ADA-TADEA, AAFP, CCM, CUF, ACT-Wazalendo, CHAUMMA, UMD, TLP, NCCR-Mageuzi, CCK, and UDP.

On Friday, April 11, 2025, Mr Kailima, through local media, warned that any political party that fails to sign the code would not be allowed to field candidates in the forthcoming polls.

“A political party that fails to sign the Electoral Code of Conduct will not be eligible to participate in the general election. According to the law, the code must be signed, adhered to, and respected by all political parties, candidates, the Commission, and the government,” said Mr Kailima.

He explained that if a party declines to sign the code, it will not be permitted to nominate candidates, as all aspirants for the presidency, parliamentary, and councillor positions are required to complete a special form—Form Number Ten—which includes a declaration agreeing to abide by the code.

Without a party’s endorsement of the code, its candidates will not be issued the nomination form.

Mr Kailima stressed that signing the code is a legal prerequisite for any political party intending to field candidates.

However, he noted that participation in the signing process is not mandatory if a political party chooses not to contest the election.

The 2024 Presidential, Parliamentary, and Councillor Elections Act stipulates that the Electoral Code of Conduct must be published following consultation with all political parties.

The code outlines conduct for political parties, the government, and the Commission throughout the campaign period and on polling day and sets out mechanisms for enforcement.

Furthermore, the law requires the code to be signed by every political party, each candidate prior to nomination, the government, and the Commission.

All signatories are required to comply, and any violations may attract penalties as stipulated in the code.

Chadema has reiterated that it will not take part in the general election unless substantial reforms are made to the electoral system.

The party has raised concerns over previous incidents, including the killing of its candidates during local government elections, the disqualification of its nominees, and the use of excessive force by authorities.

When asked about these concerns, Mr Kailima responded that INEC’s role is to implement electoral laws—not to make them—and advised the party to direct its complaints to the appropriate legal and legislative bodies.