Tanzania's Luhaga Mpina Makes Triumphant Return To Presidential Race

Tanzania's second largest opposition party ACT-Wazalendo's presidential nominee Luhaga Mpina has made a triumphant return to the ongoing presidential race of the country's forthcoming General Elections 2025, after a high court there upheld his appeal against the country's electoral body's decision to bar him from the race. That was reported by some African media on September 14, 2025.

According to the reports, a high court in Dar es Salaam on September 11, 2025, revoked the decision of the electoral body to bar hence disqualify Mr Luhaga Mpina from running in the presidential election of the forthcoming general elections scheduled for October 29, 2025, and ordered the electoral body to register him as a presidential nominee for the elections. The court in delivering the ruling, is said to have stated, among others, that the electoral body acted unconstitutionally and violated Mr Mpina's and his party ACT-Wazalendo's right to be heard.

Tanzania's Luhaga Mpina makes triumphant return to presidential race

Mr Luhaga Mpina is now the only presidential nominee for a major opposition party, in the forthcoming general elections. Presidential nominee for the largest opposition party Chadema, namely Tundu Lissu, as well as his party, are still barred from the elections, with Mr Tundu Lissu languishing in incarceration in Dar es Salaam as his treason trial continues at a high court in the coastal city. The treason charges facing Mr Tundu Lissu and the ban of his party from the general elections are said to be politically motivated, particularly aimed at getting rid of him from the presidential race.

More generally, the current government of Tanzania under the ruling party CCM has been lambasted both locally and internationally for using the country's judicial system, and other vital agencies like the police and state security agencies to clamp down on opposition politicians and their supporters, as well as social and political activists who don't support it. The government has even been accused of been an accomplice in abduction, torture, disappearance, and killing of some opposition politicians and supporters; while some activists and critics of the government have been forced to fled to neighboring countries for their safety.

The foregoing notwithstanding, the decision of the appellate court to uphold Mr Luhaga Mpina's appeal against his disqualification as a presidential nominee by the electoral body, is definitely a great milestone for the opposition in Tanzania as whole. It could be seen as an indication that the country's judiciary is beginning to get fed up by persistent classical demands or orders from the government and the ruling party CCM in particular, to do the wrong thing in order to safeguard CCM's interests. Presumably, other state agencies would emulate the judiciary, and also do the right thing from now on, knowing that they are expected to serve all Tanzanians and not only members and supporters of a ruling party. That would be dignified and would lead to making Tanzania a true democracy hence great and globally respected again.

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