What you need to know about Tanzania’s election
How does Tanzania’s electoral system work?
Tanzania has a first-past-the-post system, with the president and vice president jointly and directly elected via simple majority popular vote. They serve five-year terms, which are renewable once.
The October 29, 2025 election is a little unusual, because current President Samia Suluhu Hassan is competing in her first presidential election. She took over as president upon the death of President John Magufuli in 2021. Hassan, the first woman to lead Tanzania, was his deputy.
Tanzania has a special relationship with the semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar, off the coast to the east. While the mainland and Zanzibar have formed the United Republic of Tanzania since 1964, the territories have considerable differences in populations, colonial history, religious makeup and economy.
For example, Zanzibar’s population counts for approximately 1.9 million out of Tanzania’s total population of 68 million. Around 98% of Zanzibaris are Muslim, while around 63% of Tanzanians in total are Christians.
As such, of the 264 members of parliament directly elected to represent constituencies, 214 are reserved for mainland and 50 for Zanzibar. Women are allocated 113 additional seats in parliament, and are indirectly chosen by their respective parties.
Who could take the presidency?
Seventeen candidates and their parties are officially running. However, Hassan of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party is the only nationally recognized candidate, and the two main opposition parties, Chadema and ACT-Wazalendo (Alliance for Change and Transparency), have been barred.
Major candidates from both parties have also been banned from standing for election.
Key concerns for voters
Tanzania has made significant strides in building roads, power lines, rail and internet access, but there’s still a considerable gulf between rural communities and growing urban areas.
Service delivery — from access to clean water to reliable electricity — and a gap in educational and employment opportunities are key issues for voters. Some say that despite close on five decades of rule, the CCM has not delivered on promises.
Tanzania is East Africa’s most populous nation, and demographic trends place the country among the fastest-growing populations globally.
Young, upwardly mobile voters are increasingly making their voices heard. But concerns persist over voter apathy, or reluctance to vote, because the CCM has stifled dissent.
