CIVICUS speaks about the political context ahead of Tanzania’s October general election with a civil society activist who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons.

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan promised reconciliation and renewal on taking office in 2021. But after some initial positive moves, she’s gone on to systematically dismantle democracy behind a reformist facade. Hassan has silenced political opposition through mass arrests, enforced disappearances and torture. The sexual assault of Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire in May epitomised the state’s escalating brutality. Ahead of the election, the government has barred the main opposition party and charged its leader with treason, potentially carrying the death penalty. Urgent international action is needed to prevent further authoritarian consolidation.

What’s the political context in the run-up to the election?

When Hassan took office in 2021 following her predecessor’s death, she promised the ‘four Rs’: reconciliation, resilience, reform and rebuilding. At first this raised hope, but over time it became clear she had no intention of making real changes. Instead, her leadership has grown more authoritarian and disconnected from people’s needs.

The government is trying to control the narrative around the election, using legal and illegal tactics to weaken the opposition and its supporters. Many candidates have been barred. In April, Tundu Lissu – the runner-up in the 2020 election – was detained on fabricated charges of treason that carry the death penalty. His party, Chadema, the biggest opposition party, was disqualified after refusing to sign an electoral code of conduct. This comes just a year after Ally Kibao, a member of its secretariat, was abducted and killed; Hassan dismissed the case by saying ‘people die every day’.

More recently, the electoral commission disqualified Luhaga Mpina of the Alliance for Change and Transparency, the third-largest party, claiming he lacked ‘qualifications’. The party has taken the case to court, claiming the government is conspiring against the opposition. The exclusion of the two main opposition parties means Hassan would only face small parties in the upcoming election.

What risks do activists face?

Civic space is shrinking. Abductions, arbitrary detention and killings of activists and opposition supporters are now common. In May, Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan lawyer Agather Atuhaire were arrested after attending Lissu’s trial. Hassan had warned against activists from neighbouring countries attending the trial to ‘meddle’ and cause ‘chaos’. Both were tortured in detention, and Agather reported being sexually assaulted. They were later abandoned near their countries’ borders.

Independent platforms are being targeted. Authorities suspended Jamii Forums, one of Tanzania’s biggest whistleblower sites, for allegedly ‘insulting’ Hassan, without specifying the content. Authorities also use phone calls to abduct activists. Many of us have been receiving phone calls about fake training activities or work opportunities that are used as means to detain and abduct us.

Still, civil society keeps resisting. We are pushing for electoral and policy reforms that include an independent electoral commission and clear rules to stop candidates being arbitrarily banned. We are also seeking international funding for VPNs as we expect the government to shut down the internet in October, and we are monitoring access to information as platforms such as YouTube, often used by activists to criticise the government, are increasingly being blocked.

How can the international community support Tanzanian civil society?

The government wants the international community to perceive Tanzania as a peaceful country in a troubled region where several countries have conflicts or wars. But this is not true: people are too afraid to speak out against the government and face the consequences.

The international community should support local civil society and independent media, particularly those documenting human rights violations or strengthening capacity. It must also demand transparency and accountability. Targeted measures, such as the International Monetary Fund suspending funding that enables corruption and repression, could put pressure on the government. Above all, the world should stand with Tanzanians who continue to demand democracy and justice despite the risks.