This archive report was first published on 27 November 2019.
On November 27, 2019, the US and UK embassies in Tanzania issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over the country's local elections.
The statement highlighted the overwhelming disqualification of opposition candidates by election officials, with more than half of opposition candidates being barred from standing due to minor errors such as spelling mistakes and blank spaces on forms.
The governing Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party won 99.9% of the seats contested, including over 16,000 key positions in villages, towns, and cities across the country.
The diplomats also criticized the government's refusal to give accreditation to election observers, which they said cast serious questions over the credibility of the poll.
The main opposition groups had boycotted the elections, alleging manipulation by the government.
