South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), has revealed that its delegation to Tanzania was unable to observe the country’s recently concluded general elections due to a communication breakdown.
In a statement released on Friday, October 31, the ANC said the delegation, led by Deputy Secretary General Nomvula Mokonyane, had travelled to Tanzania at the invitation of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), which it described as its “sister party.” The visit was intended to continue the longstanding cooperation between the two liberation movements by allowing the ANC to observe the electoral process firsthand.
However, the party reported that unforeseen communication issues hindered its ability to fulfill this mission.
“For reasons that are currently unknown, a communication breakdown occurred. As a result, the delegation was unable to observe any aspect of the elections,” said ANC National Spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu.
Despite the setback, the delegation did participate in several pre-election events, including final campaign rallies and stakeholder meetings, before polling began.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), securing 97.66 per cent of the votes cast — a margin that has raised eyebrows among some observers. INEC reported that Suluhu garnered 31,913,866 votes in the final tally.
The ANC expressed confidence in the regional and international observer missions accredited to monitor the elections, stating that it looks forward to their comprehensive assessments of the polls’ integrity.
“The ANC places its confidence in regional bodies mandated to observe the overall integrity of the process,” the statement added.
While protests have been reported in some areas following the announcement of results, the ANC reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening ties with Tanzania and the CCM.
“The African National Congress values its relationship with the people of Tanzania and remains committed to fostering collaboration across the continent,” the party said.
Mokonyane has since returned to South Africa and is expected to brief ANC officials on the visit.
