In a parliamentary session held on Tuesday, Tanzanian lawmakers engaged in a heated debate over proposed electoral reforms, sparking objections from opposition parties and civil society groups. The legislation, which has been a subject of contention, prompted a significant demonstration last week led by the main opposition Chadema party. Freeman Mbowe, the party’s leader, dismissed the proposed changes as merely “cosmetic.”
Despite opposition, President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s government asserts that the reforms aim to enhance governance and democracy in the East African nation, home to approximately 65 million people. Tanzania is gearing up for its first presidential election next year since the demise of the authoritarian leader John Magufuli in 2021, paving the way for his deputy, Hassan, to assume leadership.
Jenista Mhagama, a minister of state in the president’s office, presented the bills to parliament on Tuesday, emphasizing the president’s commitment to improving multiparty democracy through reconciliation and reforms. Mhagama stated, “The electoral reforms we discuss today are the outcome of recommended changes by a task force formed by different political stakeholders in Tanzania.”
Last week’s demonstration in Dar es Salaam marked a significant event, being the largest since the government lifted a year-long ban on opposition political rallies. Mbowe, who has faced imprisonment under both Magufuli and Hassan, argued that the bills under consideration fail to address concerns raised about the 2020 election, won by Magufuli amid opposition claims of fraud.
The Chadema party, advocating for constitutional reforms and greater electoral commission independence, has criticized a specific measure in the proposed legislation. This measure would grant President Hassan the authority to directly appoint five out of the ten members of the electoral commission. Chadema’s secretary general, John Mnyika, asserted on social media that the debate is scheduled to conclude by February 2, hinting at a potential passage without amendments.
The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, holding 364 out of 392 seats in parliament, dominates the legislative landscape. Critics argue that the proposed reforms risk concentrating power, especially with the provision allowing the president to appoint a significant portion of the electoral commission members. President Hassan, seeking to reverse some of the stringent policies of her predecessor, John Magufuli, has already overturned a ban on opposition gatherings in January 2023.
In the wake of this policy reversal, Tundu Lissu, one of Tanzania’s prominent opposition leaders, returned to the country after spending most of the previous five years in exile. The unfolding debate on electoral reforms underscores the delicate balance between the government’s pursuit of democratic improvement and the concerns raised by opposition parties regarding the proposed changes.
