Tanzania
The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights has ruled that Tanzania must amend Article 41(7) of its 1977 Constitution, which currently bars courts from reviewing presidential election results. The Court found this provision violates the right to a fair hearing as guaranteed by the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The case, filed by six members of the opposition party ACT-Wazalendo, challenged the constitutional provision that prevents judicial scrutiny of presidential election outcomes. The applicants argued that this restriction denies citizens the opportunity to challenge election results through legal channels, undermining the integrity and transparency of the electoral process.
In its judgment delivered on March 6, 2026, the Court held that Article 41(7) limits access to justice and ordered Tanzania to take all necessary constitutional and legislative measures to amend this provision. The government is required to submit a report within twelve months outlining the steps taken to implement the ruling and to publish the judgment in both English and Swahili on official websites within three months.
This ruling is expected to have significant implications for electoral accountability in Tanzania, as it opens the door for presidential election results to be challenged in court, thereby enhancing the democratic process and ensuring that electoral disputes can be addressed through legal means.
For more details, refer to the full article on The Citizen: Tanzania Ordered to Amend Constitution Over Presidential Election Disputes.
