Tanzanians are set to vote in a general election on October 29, 2025, which will not only determine the country’s new government but also define the kind of democracy it aspires to be. For the first time, voters will have the opportunity to directly elect a woman, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, to the highest office in the land.
President Hassan’s rise to power in 2021 was a result of the sudden death of President John Magufuli, which led to her assumption of the presidency under constitutional succession. As the election approaches, the question remains whether she has won the hearts and minds of Tanzanians or if she still operates in the shadow of her predecessor.
During her tenure, President Hassan has implemented several reforms, including lifting the ban on political rallies, reopening shuttered newspapers, and re-engaging with the global community. Her leadership style, which is more measured and diplomatic, has been seen as a refreshing contrast to Magufuli’s combative populism. In the health sector, she has distanced herself from his COVID-19 denialism and embraced scientific guidance.
However, despite these early signals of reform, the deeper reality suggests that Tanzania’s democratic space remains under siege. Opposition leaders have been jailed on dubious charges, and critics have been silenced through intimidation. The main opposition party, CHADEMA, has been excluded from the race entirely, and its leader, Tundu Lissu, faces treason charges.
The electoral landscape is tilted sharply in favor of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, which has governed the country uninterrupted since independence. President Hassan’s administration has been criticized for preserving the instruments of control while speaking the language of reform.
As the campaign trail heats up, President Hassan is touting massive infrastructure projects as evidence of her leadership. However, much of this legacy began under Magufuli, whose “bulldozer” persona still dominates the national memory. The question remains whether she can convincingly rebrand continuity as progress and deliver tangible outcomes to Tanzanians.
President Hassan’s identity as a Muslim woman from Zanzibar carries both symbolism and strain. She embodies Tanzania’s diversity, but her attributes also expose her to identity politics that pit the mainland against Zanzibar and test societal biases about gender and religion.
As election day approaches, Tanzanians face a stark choice between continuing under the familiar rule of CCM or taking a leap of faith with a fragmented and harassed opposition. The ruling party holds all the cards, including state power, resources, and a narrative of stability built on development. The opposition, weakened by repression, struggles to present a unified front or a convincing alternative.
The outcome of the election will determine whether Tanzania’s long-promised democratic dawn can finally break or whether the shadow of its political past will continue to linger. When Tanzanians mark their ballots, they will not only decide who governs them but also the kind of democracy they want to build.
