Event Summary
As Tanzania enters its official election period ahead of the 29 October 2025 General Election, CCM presidential candidate, incumbent president Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan has placed collaboration with civil society organizations (CSOs) at the heart of her campaign. Launching the ruling party CCM’s campaign on 28 August 2025, Dr. Samia unveiled a 13-point plan for her first 100 days in office if re-elected, including a commitment to strengthen partnerships between government, political stakeholders, CSOs, and the private sector.
Central to this pledge is the proposed establishment of a Commission for Dialogue and Reconciliation, aimed at fostering inclusive national discussions and reinforcing democratic participation. This aligns with her “Four Rs” philosophy—Reconciliation, Resilience, Reform, and Rebuild—and includes a promise to create conditions for drafting a new national constitution, a longstanding demand from political actors and civic groups.
While the campaign also highlights priorities in education, health, employment, and access to clean water, the emphasis on civil society engagement signals potential progress toward a more enabling environment. However, the true impact will depend on implementation and whether these commitments translate into meaningful reforms that protect civic space and promote inclusive governance.
The proposed establishment of a Commission for Dialogue and Reconciliation would be a first in Tanzania’s history. While various committees have previously sought to foster reconciliation between the government and opposition parties, such as the “Maridhiano” talks between the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and CHADEMA, these efforts have often been short-lived and yielded limited outcomes. Freeman Mbowe, former CHADEMA chairman, acknowledged some achievements from these reconciliation efforts, but the process ultimately stalled amid mutual accusations and unmet expectations.
During internal leadership elections, the current CHADEMA chairman dismissed past reconciliation efforts as mere symbolic gestures by CCM and the government, rather than genuine initiatives, and emphasized that under his leadership there would be no superficial or hollow reconciliation attempts.
The relationship between civil society organizations (CSOs) and the government has also been complex. CSOs working in sectors such as health and infrastructure generally receive more support than those advocating for accountability, human rights, and good governance. A study by Policy Forum noted that while CSOs have engaged with state actors and submitted resolutions for an enabling environment, some initiatives have been addressed, but many have gone unanswered, leaving the operating environment for advocacy-focused CSOs unstable.
Despite these challenges, CSOs focusing on accountability and governance continue to engage state actors, submit recommendations, and innovate in response to a fragile political environment. The establishment of the Commission for Dialogue and Reconciliation, if implemented, could provide a more structured and inclusive platform for dialogue between the government, political actors, and civil society, potentially fostering greater political stability and collaboration in Tanzania.