Tanzania Opposition Alleges Voter Register Manipulation Through Names of the Deceased

Tanzania’s main opposition parties have raised alarm over what they claim is a plot to rig upcoming local elections, alleging that the national voters’ register contains the names of deceased individuals. The opposition coalition, led by Chadema and ACT-Wazalendo, accused the National Electoral Commission (NEC) of failing to clean up the register, saying it opens room for manipulation and ghost voting. Speaking at a joint press briefing in Dar es Salaam, party leaders said they had gathered evidence showing multiple cases where names of people who died years ago still appear as active voters. They warned that unless the register is audited and verified by independent observers, the credibility of the polls will be compromised. The NEC has since dismissed the allegations, insisting that the electoral roll was updated in accordance with the law and that the claims are politically motivated. However, human rights groups have urged transparency, calling on authorities to allow civil society participation in the verification process to restore public trust. The dispute comes at a time of heightened political tension in Tanzania as opposition parties push for electoral reforms and fair competition ahead of the 2025 general elections.