The European Parliament has denounced Tanzania’s general elections held on October 29, saying they cannot be considered free or fair. In a statement issued in Brussels, the Parliament cited widespread irregularities, targeted violence, and severe restrictions on civic space that undermined the integrity of the electoral process.
According to the statement, what should have been a milestone for democracy “instead unfolded in an atmosphere of fear.” The Parliament accused Tanzanian authorities of orchestrating a campaign of intimidation against opposition leaders, stifling independent media, and obstructing election observers.
“These elections cannot be regarded as free and fair. The fraud did not begin at the ballot box it has been unfolding for months,” the statement read. Lawmakers said opposition parties were deliberately sidelined, civic groups silenced, and journalists harassed in the months leading up to the vote.
The European Parliament also condemned the arrest and ongoing prosecution of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who faces treason charges. It described his case as emblematic of the erosion of democratic principles and judicial independence in Tanzania. “Lissu must be released immediately and unconditionally. No election can be credible when the main opposition is silenced,” the statement added.
Citing multiple reports of vote-rigging, violence, and restrictions on election monitoring, the European Parliament said the electoral process fell far short of international democratic standards. It called on global partners to speak out in defence of human rights and democracy in Tanzania.
“We urge all democratic partners to stand firm in the defence of democracy and human rights. Silence is not neutrality—it is complicity,” the Parliament warned.
The statement was signed by senior figures representing the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Subcommittee on Human Rights, and the Delegation for Relations with the Pan-African Parliament, underscoring Europe’s growing alarm over Tanzania’s democratic backslide.
