Tanzania to hold local elections amid opposition boycott

Tanzanians will vote in local elections on Sunday which has been boycotted by the country's top opposition parties over allegations of cheating.

The boycott has complex matters; observers will be eager to take stock of public emotions before 2020's parliamentary, presidential and council elections, in a country where credible and independent political data is limited, and space for critical media is instantly shrinking.

On Sunday 333,555 seats are to be contested, the enormous majority of which is due to candidates from across Tanzania's political spectrum.

The leading opposition party Chadme said it would not participate over allegations of government interference. Six other parties have also joined the boycott.

Chadema chairman Freeman Mbowe said around 94 per cent of its candidates were disqualified, while more than 90 per cent of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi's candidates were approved.

Many officers cited slight errors as the cause for refusal, such as mixing "R" and "L" on application forms, even though the fact that these are liberally switched in many dialects across the country.

Government has resisted foul play, while some question why CCM would want to intervene.

After the boycott announcement, the government made the sequel of U-turns that may support this theory.