What you need to know about Tanzania's elections DW 10/21/2025

"Tanzania has an electoral relationship with the island of Zanzibar. While the mainland and Zanzibar have formed the United Republic of Tanzania since 1964, the territories have considerable differences in populations, colonial history, religious makeup and economy. For example, Zanzibar's population counts for approximately 1.9 million out of Tanzania's total population of 68 million. Around 98% of Zanzibaris are Muslim, while around 63% of Tanzanians in total are Christians. As such, of the 264 members of parliament directly elected to represent constituencies, 214 are reserved for mainland and 50 for Zanzibar. 113 additional seats are allocated for women in parliament, who are indirectly chosen by their respective parties."

"Tanzania has a first-past-the-post system, with the president and vice president jointly and directly elected via simple majority popular vote. They serve 5-year terms, which are renewable once. The October 29, 2025 election is a little unusual, because current President Samia Suluhu Hassan is competing in her first presidential election. She took over as president upon the death of President John Magufuli in 2021. Hassan, the first woman to lead Tanzania, was his deputy."

Tanzania uses first-past-the-post voting with the president and vice president jointly elected by simple majority for five-year terms, renewable once. Samia Suluhu Hassan assumed the presidency after President John Magufuli's death in 2021 and is contesting her first presidential election on October 29, 2025. Seventeen candidates are officially running, but Hassan of Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) is the only nationally recognized contender while major opposition parties and leaders have been barred. The union with Zanzibar remains politically significant due to demographic, religious, historical and economic differences, and parliamentary seats are apportioned to reflect that. Infrastructure gains coexist with persistent rural-urban disparities.

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