South African President Cyril RamaphosaSouth Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), has said a delegation it sent to Tanzania was unable to observe the country’s recently concluded general elections due to what it described as a communication breakdown.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), reportedly receiving 97.66 per cent of the votes cast.
In a statement released on Friday, October 31, the ANC confirmed that its delegation, led by Deputy Secretary General Nomvula Mokonyane, had travelled to Tanzania at the invitation of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), described by the South African party as its “sister party.”
The visit was intended to allow the delegation to observe the electoral process, following longstanding traditions of political solidarity and exchange between the two parties.
“However, for reasons that are currently unknown, a communication breakdown occurred. As a result, the delegation was unable to observe any aspect of the elections,” the statement, signed by ANC National Spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu, said.
The party added that Mokonyane and her team had participated in pre-election activities, including final campaign rallies, but were unable to access official polling or counting processes once voting began.
The ANC said it has confidence in regional observer missions accredited to monitor the elections and expressed optimism that these missions would provide a comprehensive assessment of the polls’ integrity.
“The ANC places its confidence in regional bodies that are mandated to observe the overall integrity of the process and looks forward to the comprehensive assessments of accredited international observer missions,” the statement added.
Despite the setback, the ANC reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining close ties with Tanzania and CCM, emphasizing the importance of cross-border collaboration in advancing Africa’s democratic and developmental goals.
“The African National Congress values its relationship with the people of Tanzania and remains committed to fostering constructive collaboration across the continent,” the statement said.
Deputy Secretary General Mokonyane has since returned to South Africa and is expected to brief party officials on the details of the visit.
According to official tallies released by INEC, President Suluhu reportedly received 31,913,866 votes, securing a decisive victory.
Reports indicate that protests have occurred in some areas following the election results.
Security forces have been deployed in major cities, including Dar es Salaam and Arusha, as tensions remain high.
President Suluhu’s victory continues CCM’s long-standing dominance in Tanzanian politics.
