This archive report was first published on 17 June 2020.
June 17, 2020
Tanzanian President John Magufuli has sparked controversy by announcing his bid for re-election in October, just as the country struggles to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Magufuli, who was first elected in 2015, picked up nomination forms from his ruling party in Dodoma, the capital, to start his campaign for another term.
"I came here to pick up nomination forms from my party and practice this democratic process in our country. We have a responsibility to sell our manifesto for 2020-25," Magufuli said at the party's headquarters.
Magufuli's decision to seek re-election has been met with criticism from opposition leaders, who have accused him of narrowing freedoms and growing authoritarianism.
The US has also raised concerns about Tanzania's handling of the coronavirus epidemic, citing a lack of data and "exponential growth" of the virus.
Despite these concerns, Magufuli has assured the country that prayer has spared it from the worst of the pandemic, and compared its response to other nations.
However, the opposition has decried a climate of fear and violence, and the exact date for the ballot has yet to be set.
