On the eve of a pivotal national event, Tanzania’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed the completion of all preparations for the country’s general elections scheduled for Wednesday, 29 October. According to a formal statement issued by INEC chairperson Jacobs Mwambegele, a total of 37.6 million citizens are registered to vote across both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.
The elections will unfold at 99,895 polling stations nationwide, with voting to commence at 7:00 a.m. and conclude at 4:00 p.m. local time. Of the registered electorate, approximately 36.65 million are based on the mainland, with 996,303 voters in Zanzibar—reflecting a comprehensive national engagement that includes both Union and semi-autonomous regions.
Seventeen political parties have presented presidential and vice-presidential candidates, while 18 parties are contesting seats in the National Assembly and local councils. This level of multiparty participation reinforces Tanzania’s ongoing experiment with pluralistic governance since the reintroduction of multiparty politics in 1992. A total of 1,729 candidates are vying for parliamentary seats, while 7,239 individuals are contesting for council positions. Women constitute 32 percent of those contesting parliamentary seats and 10 percent of councilor candidates, demonstrating a gradual—though still unequal—progression towards gender inclusion in political leadership.
Mwambegele underscored the INEC’s logistical readiness, including the distribution of electoral materials and the completion of training for polling officials. Emphasising civic responsibility, he called upon the electorate to exercise their constitutional rights with a commitment to peace and order.
This election cycle marks a notable policy shift in the country’s electoral inclusivity. For the first time, prisoners serving sentences of up to six months, detainees on remand in mainland Tanzania, and inmates in correctional training institutions in Zanzibar have been granted the right to vote in the presidential election. This development aligns with broader continental discussions about expanding democratic rights and enfranchising historically marginalised populations, echoing shifts seen in other African jurisdictions that seek to humanise governance and reflect an inclusive understanding of citizenship.
Tanzania’s electoral process unfolds within a broader regional context of growing demands for participatory democracy, integrity in governance, and sovereign legitimacy. While electoral contests across Africa are often viewed through reductionist lenses, Tanzania’s process invites a more layered reflection on the nuances of electoral administration, civic participation, and political expression as part of an evolving African democratic ecosystem.
This election, though shaped by national realities, is also emblematic of wider African efforts to assert indigenous frameworks of accountability and political agency, moving away from imported models and towards locally grounded systems. Such efforts challenge monolithic representations and instead foreground the rich plurality of African democratic traditions.
The INEC’s call for peaceful participation underscores the centrality of civic responsibility in safeguarding not only electoral outcomes but also the broader legitimacy of Tanzania’s democratic institutions. As East Africa continues to play a defining role in the continent’s political reconfigurations, Tanzania’s 2025 elections may serve as a barometer for regional electoral integrity, resilience, and innovation.
Further developments and post-election analysis will continue to shape understandings of governance not only within Tanzania but across a continent where the right to vote is increasingly intertwined with the right to be seen, heard, and represented within systems built by Africans, for Africans.
