The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a South African opposition party led by Julius Malema, has strongly condemned Tanzania’s recent elections, describing them as a “sham” marred by repression, intimidation, and systematic silencing of opposition voices.

In a statement released on Friday, the EFF said the elections were “virtually uncontested,” accusing the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party of orchestrating the suppression of political rivals to ensure President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s continued grip on power.

According to the party, Tanzania’s main opposition leader, Tundu Lissu of CHADEMA, was jailed, threatened, and barred from participating in the electoral process, while another key challenger, Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo, was disqualified on technical grounds. The EFF said these actions severely undermined the credibility and fairness of the vote.

“The political space in Tanzania has been deliberately suffocated,” the EFF noted, accusing the government of abducting, torturing, and intimidating journalists, human rights defenders, and activists who questioned the regime. The party further condemned the use of state security organs to block opposition rallies and disrupt campaign activities nationwide.

Malema’s party also decried the internet shutdowns, nationwide curfews, and violent crackdowns on protesters that followed the disputed vote. It called on the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to urgently intervene and demanded the immediate release of detained opposition leaders and the restoration of full political freedoms in Tanzania.

“These actions strike at the heart of democracy and electoral integrity,” the EFF said. “We stand in solidarity with the people of Tanzania in their quest for justice, transparency, and true democratic representation.”

International human rights groups and election observers have echoed similar concerns, reporting widespread irregularities, harassment of opposition candidates, and restrictions on media freedom.

As Tanzania grapples with the aftermath of a highly contested election, the EFF’s statement adds to mounting international pressure on the Suluhu administration to uphold democratic values and respect the will of the people.

Julius Sello Malema, Commander-in-Chief of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and a leading voice for radical socio-political change in Africa.