• Tanzania's main opposition party CHADEMA barred from October elections.
• Disqualification follows failure to sign a mandatory code of conduct.
• CHADEMA leader Tundu Lissu faces treason charges for alleged incitement.
• The decision raises concerns about the integrity of Tanzania's electoral process.
• Government denies accusations of human rights violations amid opposition crackdowns.

Tanzania's electoral commission has formally disqualified the main opposition party, CHADEMA, from participating in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, scheduled for October 2025. This decision was confirmed by Ramadhani Kailima, the director of the Independent National Elections Commission, who stated that the disqualification stemmed from CHADEMA's failure to sign a mandatory code of conduct agreement by the stipulated deadline. "Any party that did not sign the code of conduct will not participate in the general election," Kailima emphasized, noting that this ban will also extend to all by-elections until 2030, according to Reuters.

The announcement of this disqualification comes just days after CHADEMA leader Tundu Lissu was charged with treason, accused of inciting public rebellion aimed at disrupting the electoral process. Lissu, who was arrested after addressing a public rally, allegedly called for actions to prevent the election from proceeding. The treason charge, which carries severe penalties including possible death, has been described by his legal counsel as politically motivated. Previously, Lissu had indicated that he and his party might boycott the elections unless significant electoral reforms were made to address concerns about a biased electoral system, as reported by BBC.

The exclusion of CHADEMA from the elections draws attention to the state of democracy in Tanzania, particularly as accusations of government repression against political opponents increase. Human rights organizations and both local and international observers have pointed to a pattern of intimidation, including unexplained abductions and violence against dissenters, as detrimental to political freedoms. The ruling party, Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), has consistently refuted these claims, insisting that it respects human rights and actively investigates allegations of abuses, as reported by Africa News.

Moreover, Lissu's ongoing treason case and the broader implications of CHADEMA's disqualification raise questions about the fairness of the electoral landscape in Tanzania. Observers have noted that since President Samia Suluhu Hassan's ascent to power, there has been a shift towards increasingly stringent measures against opposition voices, which some argue undermines the integrity of the democratic process itself. Amidst these developments, CHADEMA has not yet provided a public response to the commission’s ruling, according to Al Jazeera.