The Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) has today written to His Excellency Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika, Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, raising urgent concerns about the deteriorating democratic space in Tanzania as the country approaches its general elections on 29 October 2025.
In the letter, authored by Melusi Simelane, SALC’s Civic Rights Cluster Lead, we highlight the systematic erosion of fundamental freedoms, including mass detentions, enforced disappearances, torture, and judicial harassment targeting opposition figures, journalists, and civil society actors. These violations, which have intensified under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration, undermine the credibility of the electoral process and risk normalising authoritarianism across the SADC region.
Key issues outlined include the widespread disqualification of opposition candidates from parties like CHADEMA and ACT-Wazalendo during the 2024 local elections, the five-year ban on CHADEMA’s participation in elections imposed in April 2025, and the nullification of its leadership appointments. High-profile arrests, such as those of CHADEMA Chairperson, Freeman Mbowe and National Chairperson, Tundu Lissu, on treason charges, alongside violent crackdowns on peaceful assemblies, exemplify this repression. Furthermore, the deregulation of churches for political sermons, media license suspensions, and abductions, such as that of government critic Humphrey Polepole signal a broader assault on freedoms of expression, association, assembly and the press.
These actions contravene Tanzania’s Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and international covenants, while flouting SADC’s Treaty and Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections. If unaddressed, they could lead to regional instability, cross-border tensions, and a resurgence of undemocratic practices, eroding public trust in SADC institutions.
SALC calls on SADC to deploy an immediate fact-finding mission, condemn the crackdown, and coordinate with the African Union and East African Community for joint monitoring. We urge releasing detained leaders, lifting party bans, and independent investigations into abuses to ensure free, fair and credible elections. Failure to act risks entrenching autocracy and reversing decades of democratic progress in Southern Africa.