MWE Correspondent
The race for the country’s highest office gathered pace yesterday as three more presidential candidates collected their nomination forms from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Dodoma.
The move brought the total number of political parties officially entering the nomination process for the 2025 general election to six.
The latest contenders to join the race were from Chama cha Makini, the National League for Democracy (NLD), and the United Peoples’ Democratic Party (UPDP). Each arrived at the commission’s offices accompanied by their running mates and supporters, marking a significant step in their journey toward the October polls.
Coaster Kibonde, representing Chama cha Makini, arrived in the morning with his running mate, Azza Haji Suleiman. The pair appeared focused but optimistic, telling reporters they were ready to present policies that would prioritise economic reforms, rural development, and social welfare.
For the NLD, Doyo Hassan Doyo and his deputy candidate, Chausiku Khatibu Mohamed, made a colourful entrance, with a convoy of motorcycles and a three-wheeled rickshaw leading the way. Doyo outlined ambitious pledges, including abolishing hospital fees for pregnant women and ending the practice of holding bodies in mortuaries until families can pay outstanding bills. He also vowed to cut government spending by replacing luxury official vehicles with more modest ones, limiting the cost to no more than Sh30 million per vehicle.
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Twalibu Kadege of the UPDP, joined by running mate Abdalla Mohamed Khamis, struck a more understated tone but emphasised his commitment to land reform, improving healthcare services, and promoting transparency in government.
A Growing List of Contenders
These three join others who collected their forms earlier, including President Samia Suluhu Hassan of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), along with her running mate Emmanuel Nchimbi. Also in the race are the National Reconstruction Alliance (NRA) and the Alliance for African Farmers Party (AAFP).
According to INEC, the nomination window will remain open until August 27, with more political parties expected to collect their forms in the coming days. Once the nomination period closes, the electoral body will vet the applications before announcing the final list of candidates for the 2025 Tanzanian general election.
With just weeks before the official campaign period begins, Tanzanians are closely watching how the field of candidates will shape the national conversation. From promises of healthcare reform to commitments to fiscal discipline, each aspirant is seeking to connect with voters eager for clear solutions to the country’s challenges.
The road to October promises to be one of the most competitive political seasons in recent years—an election defined as much by the diversity of candidates as by the pressing issues they aim to address.
