Tanzania’s electoral commission has disqualified presidential candidate Luhaga Mpina, blocking his challenge to President Samia Suluhu Hassan. The decision, announced Wednesday, comes amid a growing crackdown on opposition parties ahead of elections scheduled for October this year.
Mpina, nominated by the third-largest party ACT Wazalendo, had collected nomination forms but was stopped from returning them at the commission. The electoral body cited a lack of qualifications, sending a letter that barred Mpina from officially submitting his candidacy papers.
ACT Wazalendo called the move “embarrassing,” questioning the integrity, competence, and independence of Tanzania’s electoral commission in a sharp statement. The party warned the ruling could set a dangerous precedent, allowing candidates to be disqualified at the discretion of individuals.
It vowed to challenge the decision in court, insisting that legal procedures, not arbitrary rulings, should determine eligibility for office. Campaigning for the October elections is scheduled to begin Thursday, August 28, as political tensions continue to simmer nationwide.
Opposition leader Tundu Lissu remains in detention since April, facing treason charges that carry the death penalty, heightening concerns over political repression. International rights groups and election monitors have criticised the government’s tightening grip on opposition, warning it threatens the future of Tanzanian democracy.
