By Mutayoba Arbogast
Bukoba–Minister of State for Local Government and Regional Administration, Mohamed Mchengerwa (pictured), addressed the results and controversies surrounding Tanzania’s local government elections held on November 27, 2024. A significant focus of his remarks was the voting mechanism for unopposed candidates, where voters cast "Yes" or "No" ballots.
Despite civic education campaigns, confusion persisted among voters about whether such candidates had already won by default. Mchengerwa clarified that unopposed candidates must secure a majority of "Yes" votes to be declared winners.
He revealed that elections in nine neighborhoods would be repeated after sole candidates failed to meet this threshold, raising questions about the ruling party's candidate screening process.
The ruling party CCM achieved a landslide victory, securing 99.01% of the contested seats. The opposition Chadema won just 0.79%, highlighting the dominance of CCM in Tanzania's political landscape.
Mchengerwa announced that voter turnout reached 86.36%, with 26.9 million of the 31.2 million registered voters participating. Despite this high engagement, some voters abstained due to the perception that unopposed candidates had already secured their positions, undermining confidence in the electoral process.
Serious allegations of electoral irregularities emerged, particularly in Kikukwe village, Missenyi District. A resident, identifying themselves as K.L.J., publicly raised concerns about significant discrepancies in vote counts.
In Kikukwe Village, Misenyi District, Kagera Region, 1,255 votes were recorded despite only 967 registered voters. Similar anomalies were reported in nearby neighborhoods, with inflated vote totals suggesting ballot stuffing.
Activist Bishop Emmaus Bandekile Mwamakula shared these allegations on social media, amplifying concerns about the integrity of the elections.
For example, in Mwemage Neighborhood, 201 votes were recorded compared to only 170 registered voters. In Rulalo Neighborhood, every registered voter was reportedly accounted for, an unlikely scenario given normal electoral participation trends.
K.L.J. alleged other instances of malpractice, including invalid ballots and inconsistencies in tallying, which they argued robbed citizens of their democratic rights. These concerns have intensified scrutiny of local electoral administration, with critics calling for reforms to prevent future discrepancies.
While it is unclear if formal appeals have been filed, the allegations have sparked debate about the credibility of Tanzania's electoral process and the dominance of the ruling party.
Mchengerwa, however, defended the overall conduct of the elections, emphasizing their transparency and efficiency in most regions. He reiterated CCM’s strong performance as evidence of its popularity and organizational strength.
Still, opposition groups and civil society activists remain skeptical, arguing that the electoral environment heavily favors the ruling party.
Observers have highlighted the need for stronger safeguards to ensure fairness and credibility in future elections. The issue of unopposed candidates and the "Yes" or "No" voting system has drawn particular attention, with many voters questioning its validity and impact on democratic representation.
Critics argue that the inability of sole candidates to secure sufficient "Yes" votes reflect broader dissatisfaction with the quality of candidates fielded by political parties.
These elections underline the complexities of Tanzania's democratic evolution, with high voter turnout reflecting civic engagement but irregularities casting a shadow over the results.
The allegations of vote inflation and ballot tampering in Kikukwe village and beyond highlight the challenges facing local governance and electoral administration. The government has yet to address these claims fully, leaving questions about accountability and transparency unresolved.
The events surrounding the November 2024 elections serve as a reminder of the importance of building trust in electoral processes.
Ensuring fairness, addressing allegations promptly, and fostering genuine competition are critical to strengthening Tanzania’s democracy. As the nation reflects on this electoral cycle, the call for reforms and increased accountability grows louder, challenging both the ruling party and opposition to rise to the occasion.