Tanzania’s 98 % “Victory”: A Wake-Up Call for Africa’s Democratic Conscience

Pretoria, South Africa, 3 November 2025 — Public Interest SA expresses profound concern over the declaration of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan as winner of the country’s highly disputed presidential election with an implausible 98 percent of the vote. The exclusion of leading opposition candidates and suppression of dissenting voices render this outcome a mockery of democracy.

“This election result is not a triumph of democracy but a warning of its corrosion,” said Tebogo Khaas, chairperson of Public Interest SA.“ The African Union’s hasty endorsement of such a blatantly flawed process confirms the moral bankruptcy of the so-called African Peer Review Mechanism, which has become little more than a fraternity of mutual impunity.”

Public Interest SA deplores the silence of regional leaders, who, by legitimising this electoral charade, erode public faith in continental governance institutions and embolden authoritarians elsewhere on the continent.

We call for:

• An independent, transparent audit of Tanzania’s electoral process under credible international and regional oversight.

• Immediate cessation of violence and protection of journalists, opposition figures and civil-society actors targeted since the vote.

• Reform of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) to introduce enforceable sanctions for states that subvert democratic norms.

“Africa cannot afford to normalise the absurd,” Khaas added.“ When 98 percent victories are celebrated as democratic, the continent betrays its citizens and mortgages its future.”

Public Interest SA reiterates its commitment to advancing ethical governance, accountability, and the rule of law across Africa.

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Media Enquiries:Public Interest SA media@publicinterst.org.za