Civil and political rights will remain constrained as Magufuli seeks a landslide in the general election to endorse his statist vision
The prospect of the October general election will dominate 2020. Last year, pre-poll government interference in the local elections saw up to 90% of opposition candidates being disqualified, a subsequent opposition boycott, and over 99% of seats going to the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi. The CCM aims to repeat the exercise in October, when landslide victories for the CCM can be expected at presidential, parliamentary, and council levels. The challenge this year will be carry it off and still maintain some legitimacy.
End of preview - This article contains approximately 977 words.