You may probably have missed it that as ACT-Wazalendo presidential hopeful Luhaga Mpina is gaining traction on the campaign trail, a spanner has been thrown on his juggernaut. One ACT-Wazalendo leader in Dar-es-Salaam has lodged a complaint to ACT-Wazalendo contesting the legitimacy of the nomination of Hon. Luhaga Mpina as their presidential torchbearer!
This tactic mirrors what Chadema has accosted as the October elections near. From the office of registrar to the code of ethics of the INEC and recently High Court fiat, Chadema has found her neck tightly noosed.
Looks now ACT-Wazalendo will be facing strangulation machinations similar to those Chadema is bracing at the moment. It is imperative to note, the ACT-Wazalendo leader copied her protest letter to INEC and the office of the registrar of political parties where the real battle will be played and finalized. This discourse peeks at where ACT-Wazalendo presidential campaign is and the root cause of this roadside derailment. Enjoy the reading.
ACT Wazalendo Receives Mpina in Simiyu with A Massive Rally.
The ACT Wazalendo party has officially welcomed its presidential candidate for the United Republic of Tanzania, Luhaga Mpina, at a public rally held in Kisesa Constituency, Simiyu Region.
The rally was also attended by the party’s Vice-Presidential candidate for Tanzania, Fatma Fereji, alongside the party’s Presidential candidate for Zanzibar, Othman Masoud. Furthermore, various party leaders attended, including the Party Leader (KC), Semu Dorothy, who presided over the reception ceremony.
During the event, Presidential Candidate Mpina and his running mate publicly displayed a bag containing nomination forms for applying to contest the Tanzanian Presidency, a step that was received with cheers by the party members and supporters.
Moreover, the Chairman of the ACT Wazalendo party, Hon. Zitto Kabwe, officially introduced Mpina to the residents of Kisesa Constituency, emphasizing the party’s unity heading towards the General Election in October 2025.
Speaking at the public rally, KC Dorothy urged citizens to turn out in large numbers to ensure they protect their votes during the election, stating the party’s slogans are **#ProtectYourVote** (#LindaKura) and **#TheRogueShouldNotBeTrusted** (#MuhuniHasusiwi).
LUHAGA MPINA SHOULD BE BARRED ACT WAZALENDO.
Monalisa Joseph Ndala, the Deputy Secretary of ACT WAZALENDO for Dar es Salaam Region and Shadow Deputy Minister for Culture, Arts, and Sports, has written a letter to the party’s Secretary General opposing the process that selected Luhaga Mpina as the party’s presidential candidate.
In her letter, which she also copied to the Registrar of Political Parties and the Director of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), she cited specific clauses: “16 (4), (i), (ii), and (iv)” of the party constitution, which she argues disqualify him from being the party’s candidate.
According to the letter, which our writer has seen, it states that for a presidential candidate of ACT WAZALENDO to be nominated by the party, they must have been a member of the party for “30 days prior” to their nomination – a clause which she argues bars Mpina.
“I have formally submitted the letter to my Secretary General, and I have also copied the Registrar of Political Parties and the Electoral Commission so they understand what is happening within our party,” said Monalisa.
She added that she has been a member of the party since its founding and that she is not ready to see the party lose direction by violating its own operational rules as stipulated in the party’s constitution (2015) and its 2024 references.
We are continuing to seek other concerned parties from all sides to know their position on this matter.
Will Mpina Be Disqualified And Weaken Further The Fragmented Opposition Before October Elections?
Based on a comprehensive analysis of Tanzania’s current political dynamics and the specific case of Luhaga Mpina, the answer to whether he will be disqualified—and its impact on the opposition—involves several critical factors:
Formal Challenge to Mpina’s Candidacy.
ACT-Wazalendo official Monalisa Joseph Ndala has filed a formal complaint arguing Mpina violates Clause 16(4) of the party constitution, which requires presidential candidates to be party members for at least “30 days prior to nomination”. Mpina joined ACT-Wazalendo on August 4, 2025, and was nominated on August 5, 2025—far short of the requirement.
Ndala copied the Registrar of Political Parties and the Electoral Commission (NEC), urging them to enforce this rule. If upheld, Mpina faces automatic disqualification.
Institutional and Political Pressures.
The ruling party CCM has a history of using legal mechanisms to sideline opponents. The NEC, whose members are appointed by the CCM-aligned presidency, holds significant discretionary power over candidate eligibility.
Internal rifts within ACT-Wazalendo may weaken Mpina’s defense. Party leader Dorothy Semu withdrew her presidential bid to support Mpina, but this unity is fragile, especially if CCM exploits divisions.
Strategic Value of Mpina to the Opposition.
Mpina is ACT-Wazalendo’s highest-profile candidate, with national recognition as a former CCM minister and vocal critic of President Samia. His candidacy aims to mobilize discontent in CCM strongholds like the Lake Zone.
Disqualification would cripple ACT-Wazalendo’s momentum. Smaller parties like TLP and NLD lack credible challengers, leaving the opposition fragmented and unable to mount a serious challenge to CCM.
Broader Opposition Fragility.
CHADEMA, the largest opposition party, is already barred from the elections. Mpina’s potential disqualification would eliminate the only remaining viable opposition candidate, turning the election into a “procedural coronation” for CCM.
Public disillusionment is high: Only 29% of youth believe elections reflect popular will. Opposition exclusion could further suppress turnout and legitimacy.
Key Takeaway.
“Mpina’s disqualification is likely” due to the membership-rule violation and institutional bias favoring CCM. If disqualified, Tanzania’s opposition would collapse into irrelevance, cementing CCM’s dominance in an election already marred by repression and exclusion. ACT-Wazalendo’s internal unity and legal appeals are critical but face steep odds.
Tactics Deployed On Chadema’s Election Of Central Committee Witnessed Here.
One member of Chadema now axed had made similar complaints to the Registrar of Political Parties which ruled in his favour and disqualified the nomination and ratification of Chadema central Committee. Similar tactics are seen here too. Weakening the opposition from within.
Chadema’s own members from Zanzibar went to the High Court questioning how Party properties were being distributed and asked the court to indefinitely suspend the party from all operations. The court acquiesced leading to Chadema total collapse.
The tactics deployed to weaken Tanzania’s main opposition party, CHADEMA—particularly through internal challenges and judicial interventions—represent a coordinated strategy to fragment the opposition ahead of the October 2025 elections. Here is a breakdown of the key tactics and their implications:
Internal Sabotage via Party Members and Registrar of Political Parties.
Central Committee Disqualification: The Registrar of Political Parties invalidated CHADEMA’s newly appointed Central Committee (elected January 2025), citing procedural flaws like an “invalid quorum” during ratification. This ruling paralyzed the party’s leadership structure and nullified key resolutions supporting the “No Reforms, No Election” campaign.
Exploiting Internal Grievances: Former Zanzibar-based leaders (e.g., Said Issa Mohamed, Maulidah Anna Komu) filed a lawsuit alleging discrimination in resource allocation between mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. Notably, these plaintiffs had previously approved the very decisions they later challenged in court, indicating orchestrated dissent.
Judicial Weaponization: High Court’s Suspension Order.
Tactical Lawsuit: The High Court (Judge Hamidu Mwanga) issued a 14-day injunction on June 10, 2025, freezing CHADEMA’s assets and suspending “all activities” nationwide. This order was granted *ex parte* after CHADEMA’s lawyer withdrew, protesting procedural unfairness.
Bias Allegations: Judge Mwanga, a former Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) official, dismissed CHADEMA’s objections without substantive hearing. The party accused him of bias, citing his ties to institutions CHADEMA has long criticized.
Paralysis of Operations: The injunction halted CHADEMA’s campaigns, fundraising, and candidate preparations, crippling its capacity to challenge the ruling CCM party.
Broader Pattern of Institutional Suppression.
Electoral Commission Ban: In April 2025, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) barred CHADEMA from the October elections for refusing to sign a state-controlled “code of conduct,” effectively excluding it until 2030.
Leadership Neutralization: Chairman Tundu Lissu faces treason charges (a capital offense), while other leaders like John Heche and John Mnyika have been arrested during protests.
Defection Campaigns: State-backed disinformation campaigns amplified reports of mass defections (e.g., falsely claiming 3,000 resignations), though actual defections were minimal (4% of members).
Political Objectives and Impact.
Undermining Reform Demands: These tactics directly targeted CHADEMA’s core agenda: electoral reforms (e.g., independent electoral commission, judicial review of results) and compliance with African Court rulings.
Fragmentation of Opposition: By provoking internal lawsuits and disqualifying leaders, the state fostered divisions within CHADEMA while creating space for proxy parties to replace it.
Legitimacy Crisis: With CHADEMA incapacitated, the October elections risk being seen as a “procedural coronation” for CCM, deepening public disillusionment (only 29% of youth trust elections).
This framing exposes Tanzania’s systemic pattern: “neutralizing opposition through state-aligned institutions and manufactured internal dissent”.
Conclusion: A Coordinated Institutional Assault.
The dual prongs of “internal sabotage” (exploiting disgruntled members) and “judicial collusion” (biased court rulings) have systematically dismantled CHADEMA’s operational capacity. This reflects a broader CCM strategy to eliminate opposition through legalistic repression rather than democratic competition. With CHADEMA’s fate hinges on the June 24, 2025, court hearing , Tanzania’s multiparty democracy faces existential jeopardy.
Read more analysis by Rutashubanyuma Nestory
