On Wednesday, Tanzanians will cast their votes to choose a president, members of the National Assembly, and ward councillors across the country.
Voters say their top concerns remain access to clean water, stable electricity, quality education, and better job opportunities.
A supporter of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party expressed frustration over healthcare costs. “When someone is admitted to the hospital, the expenses are too high. Sometimes a person dies, and the family still has to pay before they can even take the body,” she lamented.
Many citizens believe that after nearly 50 years in power, the CCM has not lived up to its promises.One opposition supporter said they hoped to see “young leaders elected who can bring real change”, reflecting growing impatience with the old political order.
Seventeen candidates are officially running in the elections, but President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who assumed office after the 2021 death of John Magufuli, remains the most prominent figure.
Initially praised for promoting political openness, President Samia now faces backlash over what critics call renewed repression and shrinking democratic space.
The main opposition party, Chadema, has accused the government of silencing dissent and intimidating critics ahead of the polls.
Both Chadema and the second-largest opposition group, ACT-Wazalendo (Alliance for Change and Transparency), have boycotted the election, saying their candidates were unfairly banned from contesting.
