Zanzibar, Tanzania – Police in Tanzania have arrested six people for alleged vote-buying as the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), begins its internal elections to select candidates for this year’s national polls.
One of the parliamentary aspirants is reported to have fled following the arrests, adding tension to an already heated nomination process.
On Monday, August 4, CCM began conducting party primaries across Zanzibar. These internal elections will decide who represents the party in the upcoming general elections for:
Councillorship
Parliamentary seats
The Zanzibar House of Representatives
This follows a five-day introductory session for all aspirants held from July 30 to August 3, meant to familiarize candidates with rules and expectations.
Tanzania Police confirmed that six individuals were arrested in connection with alleged attempts to influence delegates through cash handouts, which violates both party and national electoral ethics.
Local sources claim that the vote-buying involved envelopes of cash distributed secretly to delegates ahead of the primaries.
Police are now intensifying their search for a parliamentary aspirant who fled shortly after the arrests. Authorities have not yet released their name but say investigations are ongoing.
The ruling party has repeatedly promised to uphold transparency and fight internal corruption. The vote-buying scandal, however, threatens to undermine trust in the nomination process.
“This conduct is unacceptable and damages the credibility of our democratic process,” said a CCM official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The party will take disciplinary action against any member found guilty.”
With high-profile civil servants and influential politicians vying for nominations, competition is fierce in many constituencies. Analysts say this year’s primaries could be some of the most competitive in recent history, especially in Zanzibar where CCM maintains strong support.
Despite the arrests, voting in most areas has continued peacefully. CCM leadership has asked members to remain calm and allow legal procedures to take their course.
CCM, which has been in power since independence, holds primaries before each general election to choose candidates who will stand in national, regional, and local contests. The general elections are expected to take place later in 2025.
