SADC Condemns Samia Suluhu Hassan’s 98% Tanzania Election Win

SADC Says Tanzania’s Election Fell Below Regional Standards

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has issued a scathing assessment of Tanzania’s 2025 general election, in which President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner with a landslide 98 percent of the vote.

The SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) Preliminary Statement, released on 3 November 2025, said the poll “fell short of the requirements” of the regional bloc’s own Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, pointing to widespread irregularities, low voter turnout, intimidation, and an internet blackout.

“In most areas, voters could not express their democratic will,” said Right Honourable Richard Msowoya, the former Speaker of the Parliament of Malawi and Head of the SADC Electoral Observation Mission.

“Overall, the 2025 General Election in the United Republic of Tanzania fell short of the requirements of the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.”

The unusually direct criticism represents one of the strongest public rebukes SADC has ever issued to a member state, marking a significant shift from its historically cautious and diplomatic tone.

Ballot Irregularities, Voter Suppression, And Internet Blackout

SADC observers deployed to 27 of Tanzania’s 31 regions, including Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mbeya, and Dodoma, documented several electoral anomalies.

The report highlights low or no voter turnout at many polling stations and observed cases of ballot boxes containing multiple stacked ballot papers, which raised suspicion of ballot stuffing.

“The Mission noted a very low voter turnout in all polling stations observed. Some polling centres did not have voters at all,” the report said.

“In some polling stations, multiple orderly stacked ballots were observed in the ballot box during voting, creating a perception of ballot stuffing and an impression that individual(s) cast more than one vote at a time.”

Observers also reported a nationwide internet shutdown during voting and counting, preventing them from collecting accurate data.

“Due to protests in some areas and continued lack of internet connectivity, our Mission could not observe the closing and counting processes in most of the areas,” the SEOM noted.

In several regions, including Dar es Salaam, observers described a heavy police presence, with officers reportedly firing warning shots and blocking roads near polling centres.

Opposition Crackdown And Restricted Media

The SEOM said the political environment surrounding the vote was calm on the surface but deeply repressive underneath. Opposition leaders were arrested, some candidates disqualified, and journalists intimidated.

Among the most notable incidents was the arrest of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, head of CHADEMA, on treason charges, and the disqualification of ACT-Wazalendo’s Luhaga Mpina, which observers said created an uneven playing field.

“Some stakeholders viewed the arrests and disqualification as undermining the multi-party system by removing legitimate competition in the electoral process,” the statement said.

SADC also noted that state-owned media gave overwhelming coverage to the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), while private outlets self-censored due to fear of reprisal.

“State-owned media was predominantly covering election activities and messages of the ruling party,” SEOM said, adding that some journalists feared losing their licences.

Historical Context: SADC’s Shift After Years Of Silence

The 2025 election, which handed President Hassan a 98 percent victory, is one of the most lopsided results in Tanzania’s post-independence history.

It follows the precedent of the 2020 general election, in which her predecessor, John Magufuli, claimed 84 percent of the vote, a result that was also widely disputed by the opposition and international observers.

While SADC praised the 2020 poll as “peaceful,” other observer groups — including the European Union, Commonwealth, and United States — condemned it for widespread intimidation, arrests, and censorship.

By contrast, the 2025 SEOM report signals a rare and dramatic change in tone. For the first time, the regional bloc openly acknowledged that a member state’s election “fell short” of its own democratic benchmarks.

The mission also criticised constitutional provisions that prevent courts from reviewing presidential election results, calling them a barrier to electoral justice.

“Article 41(7) of the Constitution effectively bars any court from entertaining any challenge against presidential election results, contrary to the expectation of electoral justice,” the SEOM observed.

Recommendations For Reform

The SADC mission urged Tanzania to begin an inclusive review of its constitution to allow independent candidates, judicial oversight, and transparent electoral management.

It also condemned the harassment of observers in areas such as Tanga, where officials reportedly seized passports and deleted photographs from official devices.

“Electoral Management Bodies and security personnel are urged to ensure observers are accredited on time and given proper treatment when conducting their duties,” the mission said.

SADC further called for the promotion of gender equality, noting that only three of the 17 presidential candidates were women.

“Political parties are urged to fully implement gender and social cohesion policies to enhance the meaningful participation of women in politics,” SEOM recommended.

Appeal For Calm As Final Report Looms

The mission appealed for calm and urged Tanzanians to use legal means to resolve disputes while awaiting the final report, expected within 30 days.

“The Mission appeals to the citizens of the country to channel their concerns through established legal procedures and processes and not resort to violence or threats thereof,” Msowoya said.

The rebuke has triggered fresh debate about democracy in East Africa and SADC’s credibility as an election watchdog. For many, it marks a defining moment for the regional bloc, which has often been criticised for overlooking flawed polls in the name of “regional solidarity.”

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