The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has sharply criticised the upcoming Tanzanian general election, calling it a “sham exercise” designed to legitimise authoritarian rule under President Samia Suluhu Hassan rather than promote democracy.
In a strongly worded statement on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, KHRC accused the Tanzanian government of turning the election into a “coronation”, citing widespread reports of intimidation, arbitrary arrests, and the silencing of political opposition.
“Samia Suluhu is preparing for her coronation. Her only opposition has been jailed, barred, or silenced. What is happening in Tanzania is not an election it is maigizo (drama),” KHRC declared.
According to the commission, all major opposition figures, especially from the CHADEMA party, have been detained, disqualified, or forced into exile. Party leader Tundu Lissu was recently arrested on treason charges after demanding electoral reforms, and CHADEMA has since been banned from participating in the polls.
KHRC detailed alarming patterns of enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings, estimating that more than 250 people have been abducted or killed since 2024. The statement referenced Amnesty International’s report, “Wave of Terror Sweeps Across Tanzania,” which described the pre-election environment as “unopposed, unchecked, and unjust.”
The crackdown, KHRC noted, has extended to religious institutions, with churches deregistered and clergy persecuted for criticising the government. Prominent religious leaders such as Bishop Josephat Gwajima and Bishop Benson Bagonza have fled the country after receiving death threats.
KHRC also condemned media censorship, noting Tanzania’s ban on international journalists and withdrawal of observation missions from the US, EU, and UNDP.
The organisation urged the African Union (AU) and East African Community (EAC) to stop legitimising the process and instead impose sanctions on Tanzanian officials.
“The so-called election in Tanzania is not democracy—it’s a crackdown disguised as one. Africans deserve better than governments that loot, silence, and terrorize their people,” KHRC affirmed
