By Faridah N Kulumba
Africa-Press-Tanzania On 20th April 2022, Tanzanian main opposition leader Freeman Mbowe vowed that his party Chadema will not take Shs110 million in government subsidies. Mbowe explained that if his party accepts this money it will be like a bribe for them to legitimize the 2020 general election results.
What happened in 2020
On 24 October 2020 Tanzanians opposition claimed that the government was interfering in the election by making it more difficult to accredit thousands of opposition electoral observers, whose job is to ensure that the election is fair. The opposition also claimed that the National Electoral Commission, whose members are appointed by the president, has barred challenger Tundu Lissu from campaigning while letting the incumbent President John Pombe Magufuli campaign.
Irregularities
On 27 October, the Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA) blocked several popular social media websites to restrict communication and violence on the islands of Zanzibar, where dozens were shot dead and tens were injured by the police and other security forces. According to the international news websites, the 2022 elections in Tanzania were marred by allegations of arrests of candidates and protesters, restrictions on agents of political parties to access polling stations, multiple voting, pre-ticking of ballots, and widespread blocking of social media. A local elections watchdog group noted a heavy deployment of military and police whose conduct created a climate of fear.
Declaration
After vote counting, Tanzania’s National Electoral Commission (TNEC) declared President Magufuli the winner of his second term, a contest that was dismissed by the opposition as a “travesty” because of widespread irregularities. According to TNEC, Magufuli received 12.5 million votes, which is 85 percent, while his main opposition challenger Lissu of the Chadema party got 1.9 million votes, which is 13 percent. Magufuli’s Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, a version of which held power in Tanzania since independence from Britain in 1961, had already retained power in the semi-autonomous Indian Ocean archipelago of Zanzibar with 76 percent of the votes.
Alternative
The Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo party (Chadema’s) National Chairman Mbowe instead of turning
to the government for support of the Chadema party, started a campaign named ‘Join the Chain’ which is aimed at mobilizing various citizens to contribute to the party. He insisted that it is better for the Chadema party members to walk on foot encouraging people to contribute to the party instead of taking the subsidy.
Difficult decision
Chairman Mbowe accepts that the decision of encouraging Tanzanians to fundraise for his party is a difficult political decision but there is no way and this is Chadema’s stance, which gives the party a lot of trouble. Mbowe added that the day Chadema changed its position then it was certain that something was being addressed.
Join the Chain campaign fruits
Tanzanians, most especially businessmen and various citizens in the Kariakoo area, welcomed Mbowe’s campaign and applauded him. To show their support the donated cash worth about Sh1 million(USD 429.12)
Mbowe’s arrest
On 21 July 2021, Mr. Mbowe together with other opposition leaders was arrested as he prepared to address a constitutional forum arranged by his party. Mbowe was later charged with terrorism and stayed behind bars for eight months before the charges were dropped this year in March. Immediately after his release, he met President Samia Suluhu Hassan to discuss their working relations.
The agreement
Mr. Mbowe revealed that in the meeting they had with President Samia, the two leaders agreed that they are ready to work together if both of them are targeting justice as a pillar of running politics.
Last month before the State House issued a statement about the plans to change Tanzania’s constitution after the 2025 elections, President Samia had an exclusive interview with a foreign media but refused to discuss the constitution saying it was a matter between herself and Tanzanian affairs.
Obstacles of multi-party system in Tanzania
Tanzania is still suffering from the hangover of a single-party rule. There are many indicators. Tanzania is still largely a party-state within a multiparty political system. Politics is still dominated by the one-party generation. Most of them are in their late sixties and above. The transition to multiparty democracy in Tanzania continues to be frustrated by several factors including institutional weaknesses in practically all political parties as manifested by the lack of party philosophy or ideology, the functioning of party structures and processes, lack of participatory internal democracy due to a deficit of communication between the leaders, followers and the population and many more.
