Wamuzi News Ke
A sweeping wave of condemnation has erupted across the East African region as leading rights-organisations accuse the government of Samia Suluhu Hassan in Tanzania of orchestrating a brazen assault on democracy.
In a deeply troubling statement released on Tuesday, the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) alongside regional partners the Pan‑African Progressive Leaders Network, Vocal Africa and PAWA 254 declared the upcoming election in Tanzania “nothing but a sham.”
Democracy Dismantled, Rights Organisations Warn.
The coalition of rights bodies paints a stark picture: the mechanisms for free and fair elections have been systematically dismantled and opposition forces virtually erased from the political landscape. According to the statement, the central electoral body has barred key opposition candidates from participating, while the very notion of a meaningful and competitive poll has been rendered hollow.
They maintain that the environment in Tanzania has been transformed into one of fear and suppression: enforced disappearances; abductions; torture; extrajudicial killings.
The campaign of violence is described as targeted at the principal opposition party CHADEMA and its leadership, including Tundu Lissu — who faces treason charges while demanding electoral reform. In their starkest warning, the rights groups assert:
There will be no genuine elections in Tanzania under these conditions.
What Rights Groups Are Pointing To
Key allegations from the statement include:High-profile arrests, detentions and bans on opposition figures from running for office. Silencing of independent media, withdrawal of licences and restriction of foreign journalists. Intensified security operations around the country, under the guise of maintaining order ahead of the election. Disappearance of civic space — meaning freedom of speech, assembly and dissent are no longer viable in practice.
Implications: What This Means for East Africa.
The denunciation by these organisations raises alarm bells far beyond Tanzania’s borders. For the East African Community (EAC), a regional bloc that emphasizes shared governance and democratic norms, this represents a major test of credibility.
The statement warns that if one member drifts into autocratic territory unchecked, the entire institution risks collapse. For Tanzanian citizens, this flagrant undermining of electoral processes signals that the next election is unlikely to reflect the genuine will of the people.
For neighbouring nations and the international community, such conditions may trigger diplomatic, financial and reputational consequences.
Response and Recovery — What Happens Now?
The rights groups are calling for immediate action:International observers and diplomatic missions should press for transparent access to the election environment.Independent monitoring of arrests, detentions and disappearances of opposition and media actors.
Accountability mechanisms activated for alleged human-rights abuses.Restoration of space for opposition parties, media houses and civic organisations to operate free of intimidation.
Time is of the essence. With polling days arriving, the clock is ticking for authorities in Tanzania to re-open the political arena if they are to salvage credibility. Otherwise, the label “sham election” risks becoming irrevocable.
