MWE Correspondent
With just over a week to go before Tanzania’s general election on October 29, 2025, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has launched its official Election Observation Mission (SEOM) in the country.
The deployment aims to assess the strength of Tanzania’s democratic institutions, the protection of human rights, and the transparency of the entire electoral process.
The SEOM team arrived in Tanzania on October 12 and has stationed observers across 27 regions. However, logistical challenges have made it impossible to deploy teams in Mtwara, Tabora, Shinyanga, and Tanga. Despite these limitations, the mission said it remains committed to providing a comprehensive review of the election’s credibility and fairness.
Speaking at the official launch in Dar es Salaam on October 21, SEOM head and former Speaker of Malawi’s National Assembly, Richard Msowoya, said the mission’s work goes beyond observing polling day activities. He explained that observers would focus on the broader political environment, including whether citizens are free to exercise their fundamental rights such as freedom of assembly, expression, and association.
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“The mission will assess whether the country’s constitutional and legal frameworks guarantee basic freedoms and human rights,” Msowoya said. “It will also look into the level of transparency in election management, the conduct of political parties, and the media’s role in ensuring balanced reporting.”
Observers will evaluate the functioning of the Electoral Management Body (EMB), the fairness of election laws, and whether all political parties enjoy equal access to public media and state resources. The mission will also investigate any cases of political intimidation, corruption, or suppression of dissenting voices.
Tanzania’s upcoming election is seen as a major test of its democratic resilience. Although the nation has long been known for political stability, concerns remain over inclusivity, civic freedoms, and equal access to campaign platforms.
Political analysts say that the presence of regional and international observers helps reinforce transparency and public confidence in the electoral system. However, they note that the absence of SEOM observers in four regions could limit the scope of its findings.
