This archive report was first published on 11 November 2019.
On November 24, 2019, Tanzanian authorities initially planned to disqualify many opposition candidates from local elections, citing errors on official forms.
However, in a sudden reversal, Minister of State Selemani Jafo announced that leniency would be shown, allowing previously barred candidates to stand.
Several opposition parties, including the largest party Chadema, had announced a boycott of the local elections, condemning them as a mockery of the democratic process.
