European Parliament Condemns Tanzania’s Elections, Citing Intimidation and Suppression

The European Parliament has sharply criticized Tanzania’s recent general elections, describing them as “neither free nor fair” and accusing authorities of creating a climate of fear and intimidation that undermined democratic principles.

In a strongly worded statement released on Wednesday, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) said the October elections  which were expected to be a celebration of democracy  instead became “a moment marked by repression, anxiety, and state-sponsored intimidation. “These were not genuine elections,” the statement read. “Manipulation did not begin at the ballot box; it began months before, through harassment, restrictions, and the systematic silencing of dissenting voices.”

The MEPs expressed particular concern over the treatment of opposition figures, alleging that many were arbitrarily arrested, detained, or barred from political participation. They cited the ongoing prosecution of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who faces charges of “subversion” after calling for fair and transparent elections. “Tundu Lissu must be released immediately,” the statement demanded.

The European Parliament argued that no election can be considered legitimate if political opponents are jailed, freedom of expression is curtailed, and independent media are muzzled. Reports of irregularities, observer expulsions, and violence against activists, it said, have “shattered public trust in the democratic process.”

The resolution was signed by David McAllister, Chair of the Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs; Mounir Satouri, Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights; and Merja Kyllönen, Head of the delegation for relations with the Pan-African Parliament.

In their joint appeal, the legislators urged the international community not to remain silent, warning that inaction would amount to complicity. “We call upon all democratic partners to stand firm in defending human rights and democratic values. Silence in the face of injustice is a form of endorsement,” the statement concluded.

The condemnation follows days of tension and street protests in Tanzania, as opposition groups and civil society organizations continue to contest the credibility of the elections, accusing the government of systematic electoral manipulation and suppression of dissent.