Tanzanian president and ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party candidate Samia Suluhu Hassan has formally submitted her candidacy for the presidential election scheduled for 29 October 2025. The Independent National Electoral Commission began accepting nomination papers on 9 August and Hassan was the first to be issued a nomination form. She was accompanied by vice presidential running mate and CCM secretary general Emmanuel Nchimbi.
Hassan urged party members to set aside internal differences after the primaries and to present a united campaign team to secure a decisive victory. The official campaign period opens on 28 August and closes the day before the vote.
Stephen Wassira, deputy chair of CCM for the mainland, said the party has no reason to be afraid even if a large number of candidates enter the race.
Other hopefuls also received nomination forms on the same day.
Background and political context
In April the main opposition party CHADEMA was suspended from participating in the presidential and parliamentary elections after failing to sign the code of conduct required by authorities. CHADEMA leader Tundu Lissu faces charges including treason and spreading false information, and he was detained on 9 April following an opposition rally in Mbinga. The exclusion of CHADEMA and the criminal charges against its leader have raised concerns among domestic and international observers about the competitiveness of the upcoming vote and the broader state of political pluralism in Tanzania.
Potential implications
The election will test CCM's continued dominance and the durability of Samia Suluhu Hassan's political standing after she assumed the presidency. Key issues likely to shape the campaign include economic performance, governance and rule of law, regional security, and development priorities on the mainland and the islands. Observers will be watching the legal proceedings against opposition figures, the inclusiveness of the electoral process, and the conduct of electoral authorities as nominations proceed and the campaign unfolds.
