Meet the candidates of Tanzania's 2025 presidential elections
Tanzania is heading to the polls on October 29, 2025, in elections that could extend the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party’s rule for seven decades.
There are 17 candidates, but reliable information about most of them remains scarce. The campaign has been dominated by the ruling party’s candidate, while smaller contenders have struggled to gain visibility in a political environment marked by limited media access and growing state control.
The political climate is tense, with reports of repression, arrests, and intimidation targeting opposition figures. President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who assumed office in 2021 after the death of John Magufuli, entered power promising reform and reconciliation. However, critics argue that her government has since tightened its grip on the political system, leaving little room for genuine competition.
Samia Suluhu Hassan (Chama Cha Mapinduzi - CCM) – The incumbent president and the first woman to lead Tanzania, Suluhu Hassan has years of experience in government and initially projected herself as a moderate reformer. Running with Emmanuel Nchimbi as her vice-presidential candidate, she remains the dominant political figure in the race.
Her strongest potential challengers, particularly from the Chadema opposition party, have been weakened by systematic state pressure. Opposition leaders have faced legal restrictions, arrests, and in some cases, violent intimidation. This has left Tanzania’s political opposition fragmented and largely unable to mount an effective national campaign.
Other candidates represent smaller, lesser-known parties with limited influence on the national stage.
Othman Masoud Othman (Alliance for Change and Transparency – ACT Wazalendo): Masoud, the former First Vice President of Zanzibar, has emerged as the main opposition figure in the campaign. Known for his legal background and measured political style, he has positioned himself as a reformist voice advocating for stronger governance, youth empowerment, and greater autonomy for Zanzibar within the union.
Although the National Electoral Commission reportedly barred his candidacy earlier this year, ACT Wazalendo continued to campaign with him as its symbolic presidential representative, drawing significant crowds, particularly in Zanzibar. His prominence underscores the frustration among opposition supporters over shrinking political space.
Twailib Ibrahim Kadege (United People's Democratic Party – UPDP): Kadege’s campaign centres on youth employment and vocational training, aiming to expand opportunities for young Tanzanians.
Wilson Elias Mulumbe (Alliance for Democratic Change – ADC): Mulumbe advocates for the use of satellite technology to boost sectors like agriculture, mining, and justice, and supports introducing dual citizenship to strengthen economic ties.
Kunje Ngombale Mwiru (Alliance for Africa Farmers Party – AAFP): Mwiru focuses on agricultural reform, proposing zonal markets, fixed crop and livestock prices, and 24-hour access to essential public services.
While these smaller candidates remain part of the electoral process, there is very little publicly available information about most of them, and their campaigns receive limited coverage, giving them minimal capacity to challenge CCM’s entrenched dominance. Their participation, however, serves as a reminder of Tanzania’s multi-party structure, one that exists more in form than in genuine political balance.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
