Tundu Lissu, the new chairman of Tanzania’s main opposition party, CHADEMA, has insisted that his party will not boycott the October general election.

However, Lissu said Chadema would ensure before elections are conducted, proper reforms are undertaken in the electoral body

‘’No reforms, no election’’ said Lissu adding ‘’ How can we go in an election where the president has all the powers to appoint and fire electoral commissioners at his/her will’’?

Speaking to reporters in Dar es Salaam, Lissu urged the international community and religious leaders to support constitutional changes and electoral laws before Tanzania’s general election in October 2025.

“Our electoral system and laws need reforms. From the national commission chairperson, to the commissioners, upto the poling assistants, all are the president’s appointees. The president can also fire the entire electoral body at any time. if we go to the election this system, we will be struck out,” said Mr Lissu.

Lissu has also called on the electoral body to review laws on constituency delimitation. He wants the constituencies to be constituted based on population rather than the geographical nature of the country.

‘’According to the National Electoral Commission’s 2020 data, Zanzibar had a total of 566,917 votes and was allocated 50 constituencies, while Dar es Salaam region has a population of 3,427, 353 and 10 constituencies. If you tally the total number of voters in five regions; Dar es Salaam, Tabora, Mwanza, Morogoro and Morogoro regions, you get approximately 9.3 million voters. Those five regions have 51 constituencies. That is not fair and it’s not in our constitution’’ said Lissu