Human Rights Watch has decried what it calls a pattern of repression by the Tanzanian government ahead of next month’s watershed elections.
In a statement seen by APA on Tuesday, HRW said the government has intensified political repression, raising grave concerns that the general elections scheduled for October 29, 2025, will be free and fair.
”The authorities have suppressed the political opposition and critics of the ruling party, stifled the media, and failed to ensure the electoral commission’s independence” it said in its latest report.
HRW urged the Tanzanian government to dessist from muzzling dissenting voices and the media and instead conduct ”meaningful reforms to ensure free, fair, and credible elections”.
Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzania’s first female president is set to run for election four years after the death of her boss John Magufuli in 2021.
Despite being praised for her political tolerance at the start of her administration, the 65-year-old former MP and native of Zanzibar, her critics have accused her govenrnment of stiffling political opposition and gagging the media.
The Independent National Electoral commission (INEC)last month cleared her to run for president under the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party but barred would-be challenger Luhaga Mpina from being a candidate.
The main opposition Chadema is also barred from taking part in the election.
WN/as/APA