Cherargei urges Suluhu to form inclusive government after landslide victory

President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania casts her vote at Chamwino village office polling station in Dodoma on election day on October 29, 2025.

Senator Samson Cherargei has congratulated Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan on her re-election and urged her to form a broad-based government to promote unity after a tense election period.

In a message posted on X, the Nandi Senator noted that President Suluhu ran virtually unopposed after several key opposition figures were absent from the race, securing nearly all votes, including all but two of the 272 parliamentary seats.

“Your Excellency Suluhu, celebrate in magnanimity and now start the process of handshake/broad-based government with an aim of forming an inclusive government. Now also start the process of writing a new constitution to reflect the wishes of the people of Tanzania,” he wrote.

Cherargei added that the outcome reflected a call for reforms, expanded democratic space, and stronger human rights protections.

“Kweli kwa jirani kunawaka moto,” he remarked — a Swahili phrase meaning “indeed, our neighbour is on fire.”

His remarks came hours after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared President Suluhu the winner of the October 28 election with an overwhelming majority.

INEC chairperson Jacobs Mwambegele announced that Suluhu, running under the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, had secured about 31.9 million votes — approximately 97.66 per cent of the total ballots cast. Voter turnout stood at nearly 87 per cent of the 37.6 million registered voters.

The victory gives her another term in office. However, several international observer groups and media outlets have reported concerns raised by some stakeholders over the credibility of the process and incidents of unrest following the vote.

According to various reports, protests were held in several Tanzanian cities, including Dar es Salaam, Arusha, and Mwanza, amid allegations by sections of the opposition that some candidates had been barred from contesting. Demonstrations, largely driven by young people, reportedly continued despite a curfew imposed by authorities.

Rights organisations and media reports have cited claims of casualties in the unrest, though figures vary widely and remain unverified. Official government data on fatalities or injuries had not been released by the time of reporting.

Opposition leaders have also criticised what they described as limited political space ahead of the election. Among them is Chadema party leader Tundu Lissu, who was reported to be in detention facing treason-related charges following calls for electoral reforms.

International observer missions noted that their access to some polling areas was restricted and cited reports of intimidation and censorship in the lead-up to the polls.

In Zanzibar, the semi-autonomous archipelago that elects its own president, CCM candidate Hussein Mwinyi was declared the winner with close to 80 per cent of the vote.