What 2024 local government elections mean ahead of general election

The elections were a litmus test for Tanzania’s commitment to democratic ideals, analysts claim.

Speaking to The Citizen, a political analyst from the University of Dar es Salaam, Dr Richard Mbunda, described the elections as indicative of systemic flaws.

"The absence of an independent electoral commission has significantly undermined the credibility of these elections. If the system remains unchanged for 2025, genuine concerns about fairness will persist," he noted.

Dr Mbunda’s observations are echoed by his colleague, Dr Faraja Kristomus, who cautioned that government control over the electoral process risks alienating the opposition and the public alike.

"The whole process was a lesson that we are not moving in the right direction; even the results proved that," he said.

At the start of 2024, there was optimism when the government announced plans to establish the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a transparent and impartial process.

The INEC Act, passed by Parliament on February 2, 2024, established the independent commission's responsibility for overseeing local government elections, contingent upon the enactment of a supporting law.

However, the Parliament has yet to pass the necessary legislation to enable INEC to fulfil this mandate.

However, the failure to pass the law in Parliament that would have empowered INEC to oversee the elections forced the President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government [PO-RALG] to step in, sparking protests from opposition parties.

"The ruling party’s control over PO-RALG makes it virtually impossible for opposition parties to compete on an even playing field. Without an independent electoral commission, trust in the results is severely compromised," argued a political scientist at UDSM, Dr Paul Loisulie.

The situation escalated when three Tanzanian citizens—Bob Wangwe, Ananilea Nkya and Buberwa Kaiza—filed a petition in the High Court to halt the elections, citing the absence of an independent body as illegal.

Despite their efforts, on October, the court ruled in favour of the government, allowing PO-RALG to proceed with overseeing the elections.

"This ruling raises concerns about the judiciary's independence. It highlights the increasing intertwining of judicial and executive interests, which undermines checks and balances in the system," said Prof Makame Ali Ussi of the State University of Zanzibar (SUZA).

As the elections progressed, opposition parties faced significant hurdles.

Reports of widespread disqualifications of candidates fuelled accusations that the government was deliberately sidelining opposition candidates to ensure a clean sweep for the ruling party, CCM.

"The disqualification of numerous opposition candidates is a clear indication of a biased system designed to favour CCM," noted a political analyst from the Open University of Tanzania, Dr Revocatus Kabobe.

When the elections concluded on November 27, 2024, the results painted a stark picture of political imbalance.

CCM secured an overwhelming 99.01 percent of village chairperson positions and 99.31 percent of members of the village council’s seats.

In stark contrast, the leading opposition party, Chadema, won only 0.79 percent.

"The dominance of CCM leaves little room for meaningful opposition representation. Such results raise questions about the credibility of the electoral process and the future of Tanzania's democracy," said Dr Mbunda.

However, for analysts like Dr Kristomus, the 2024 elections serve as a warning for the 2025 General Election.

"The results show a political system heavily skewed in favour of the ruling party. Without significant reforms, the outcomes of future elections may already be predetermined," she cautioned.

Dr Loisulie echoed this concern, emphasising that the lack of genuine competition undermines the democratic process.

"When elections are reduced to formalities, public trust in the system erodes. Democracy thrives on competition and without it, the system loses its meaning," he said.

Looking ahead, the 2024 local government elections have exposed deep flaws in Tanzania’s electoral framework.

Analysts warn that if these issues are not addressed, the credibility and fairness of future elections, including the 2025 General Election, will remain in doubt.

"This isn't just about one election or one victory. It’s about the erosion of public trust in the democratic process. When people believe that their votes won't matter or that the results are already determined, they lose confidence in the political system altogether,” shared Dr Loisulie

He went on to say a deeper look into the election process shows how certain institutional weaknesses have become entrenched over time.

“The absence of a truly independent electoral commission remains a key issue. By allowing PO-RALG, an arm of the government controlled by the ruling party, to oversee elections, the integrity of the entire process is compromised,” he said.

“The perception of a biased electoral system doesn't just affect the parties involved—it affects the entire country. It casts doubt on every electoral result and that is not healthy for a democracy," added Dr Mbunda.

On top of that, Dr Kabobe noted: "This issue of election oversight reveals the deep-rooted challenges in Tanzania's political landscape. It shows that the ruling party is not yet ready to relinquish control over the electoral process and is content with a system that favours its own interests."

Dr Loisulie highlighted that the need for a real independent electoral commission is more urgent than ever.

"The delay in setting up INEC for the 2024 elections undermines the electoral system's credibility. Moving forward, this failure can only foster more scepticism about future elections," he said.