AU Observers Report Widespread Irregularities in Tanzania’s Controversial Elections

 

By Brad Mukopi 

 The African Union (AU) Election Observers Mission has released a preliminary report highlighting serious irregularities in Tanzania’s recently concluded elections, which resulted in President Samia Suluhu Hassan securing her first elected term and the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party maintaining a parliamentary majority.

According to the AU report, the elections were marred by multiple violations of democratic standards, including ballot stuffing, internet blackouts, and abductions, raising serious concerns about the credibility and fairness of the process.

“The election failed to comply with the AU’s principles and standards for democratic elections,” the mission said, citing a range of irregularities across the country. Observers noted widespread voter apathy, with some polling stations reporting minimal turnout. Even among those who voted, there were instances where voters were allowed to cast ballots without proper identification.

The report also highlighted procedural flaws at polling stations where only presidential ballots were available, noting that some voters were issued multiple ballots, compromising the integrity of the results. Furthermore, the mission criticized the Tanzanian government for shutting down the internet and restricting media freedom during voting, counting, and tallying, with discrepancies in ballot counts observed during the process.

The AU’s findings echo concerns previously raised by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which also reported ballot stuffing and low voter turnout, indicating that the elections fell short of SADC’s Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.

Human rights groups, including the Human Rights Defenders of Tanzania and the Tanganyika Law Society, have also condemned the post-election environment, reporting killings of civilians, property destruction, arbitrary arrests, and police beatings. These groups have called for an immediate end to state-sponsored violence and human rights abuses.

The AU mission concluded that the elections did not meet both regional and international standards for free and fair elections, casting a shadow over the legitimacy of President Suluhu’s mandate and the ruling party’s parliamentary majority.

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