By The Arusha News Political Desk Reporters
With four days left before Tanzanians vote in the General Election on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, preparations have intensified across the country where electoral officials are finalising the logistics and delivery of ballot material. Wednesday is a public holiday. The election will see voters choose the President, Members of Parliament and Councillors. The race is largely dominated by the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), whose candidate, incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan, is widely expected to secure resounding victory, making history as the first woman to be elected the president.
President Samia came to power in 2021 through a constitutional process following the death in office of President John Pombe Magufuli, while she was serving as the Vice-President. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed 37,647,235 registered voters nationwide, of whom 8,446,451 are from the northern zone—an area expected to play a decisive role in voter turnout. Regional voter figures are: Arusha (2,052,118), Kilimanjaro (2,476,331), Manyara (1,735,442) and Tanga (2,182,560).
In Zanzibar, voting will take place over two days—October 28 and 29, 2025—under the supervision of the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC). In line with electoral procedures, members of the security and defence forces will vote early on October 28 while the general public will cast their ballots on October 29, the same day as the Union election. Zanzibaris will elect the President of Zanzibar, Members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives and Councillors and will also participate in the Union election by voting for the President of the United Republic of Tanzania and Members of the Union Parliament representing Zanzibar.
The presidential race on the Union side has narrowed after the disqualification of the main opposition, CHADEMA following the party’s refusal to sign a code of conduct demading that there should be reforms first. Other 17 opposition parties are also participating, but analysts say they lack the nationwide mobilisation capacity to pose a major challenge to CCM. In a recent analysis of the election landscape, Amal El Ouassif, a political analyst at the Policy Centre for the New South, said Tanzania appeared set for another ruling party victory. “The political dominance of CCM and the absence of a strong opposition challenger give the ruling party a significant advantage in this election,” she said.
In a briefing earlier this week, INEC Chair Justice Jacobs Mwambegele said the Commission had completed several administrative adjustments ahead of voting day, including nullifying 10 wards and relocating 292 polling stations. He said these changes were made to ensure “compliance with government administrative notices and accessibility for voters.” In Arusha, Regional Commissioner, Amos Gabriel Makalla, said all materials had reached district tallying centres and assured residents that preparations were on schedule. “Every eligible citizen will vote in a peaceful environment,” he said. In Kilimanjaro, Regional Commissioner Nurdin Babu cautioned against misinformation during the election period. “False reports will not be tolerated and legal measures will be taken against anyone spreading misleading claims,” he warned.
In Manyara, election coordinators said additional vehicles, fuel reserves and security escorts had been allocated to ensure ballot material delivery to remote polling centres in Simanjiro, Kiteto and Mbulu. Civic education exercises continue in several wards to promote voter participation. In Tanga, INEC registration officer, Dr Ikupa Mwasyoge confirmed that the voter list verification exercise had been completed. Security agencies say they have deployed officers to all polling stations nationwide to guarantee order. Police officials assured voters they would be free to cast their ballots without intimidation or interference. Polling stations open at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday and close at 4:00 p.m. Vote counting will begin immediately at polling stations before official results are relayed to constituency tallying centres.
