IDU Statement on Democratic and Electoral Reforms in Tanzania
The government of Tanzania presented three bills regarding elections and political parties in Parliament on November 10, 2023, claiming it was implementing its pledge to reform and improve the country’s democratic framework and electoral system.
After evaluating the three bills, the International Democracy Union (IDU) is profoundly concerned, as said bills do not in any way reflect a clear and genuine intention by the government to make fundamental electoral reforms or improve Tanzania’s democracy.
The IDU has also noted that the bills presented in Parliament sidelined almost all recommendations made by the UN Elections Needs Assessment Mission of 2022, all suggestions put forward by domestic and international election observers, as well as opinions from the wider Tanzania public and directives from the East Africa Court of Justice and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
If these bills are enacted by the virtually one–party parliament, the IDU is seriously concerned that the 2019 and 2020 electoral theft will be repeated during the 2024 and 2025 elections.
The IDU therefore:
- Supports the call made by CHADEMA for the government of President Samia Hassan to withdraw from Parliament and re-write all the bills, respecting and incorporating opinions, recommendations, suggestions, and directives made by the wider Tanzania public, international stakeholders, and both regional and continental courts of Justice and Human Rights.
- Reminds the government of Tanzania to take the International Democracy Union’s 2023 resolution adopted in London seriously. Among other things, it calls upon President Samia Hassan to ensure the enactment of major constitutional and legislative electoral reforms before the 2024 and 2025 elections to avoid a repetition of the 2019 and 2020 electoral theft.
- Calls upon other international actors and Tanzania development partners to increase the pressure on President Samia Hassan to implement meaningful electoral reforms that will guarantee free, fair, inclusive, transparent, and credible elections in 2024 and 2025.
Issued today, January 23rd, 2024, by the International Democracy Union.