Thousands Protest in Tanzania as Opposition Seeks Amended Electoral Reforms

01/25/2024

Thousands of people protested in Tanzania on January 24 against proposed changes to electoral laws, in the largest public demonstration since the government lifted a ban on opposition political rallies in January 2023.

Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, organized the rally in the main city of Dar es Salaam as lawmakers prepare for next month’s debate on a raft of contentious electoral reforms proposed by the government. Chadema has been campaigning for constitutional reforms and greater independence for the electoral commission to be included in the legislation to be debated by lawmakers in February.

“This is just the beginning,” Chadema leader Freeman Mbowe promised the crowd, adding that protests would spread from Tanzania’s economic capital to other parts of the country until the government responded to its concerns.

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