ACT Wazalendo defends code signing as legal requirement, not electoral endorsement

Dar es Salaam. ACT Wazalendo has defended its decision to sign the 2025 General Election Code of Ethics, saying the move was driven by legal obligation and strategic necessity rather than endorsement of the current electoral framework.

In a statement issued yesterday, the party’s Secretary-General, Mr Ado Shaibu, outlined five key reasons for signing the document, amid rising political debate over the implications of compliance.

“It’s crucial for the public to understand that signing the Code does not mean we are satisfied with the existing electoral system,” Mr Shaibu said.

He added: “Rather, it reflects our recognition of the legal framework that all political parties must follow to qualify for participation in elections over the next five years.”

According to Mr Shaibu, the current regulations require all parties intending to contest in the upcoming general election to sign the Code. Failure to do so would effectively result in automatic disqualification—something the party views as coercive and legally contentious.

Push for reforms continues

The party revealed that it had submitted 20 proposed amendments to the draft Code of Ethics, none of which were taken into account in the final document adopted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Despite that setback, ACT Wazalendo signed the Code while maintaining a critical stance and continuing to advocate for sweeping electoral reforms.

“We remain firmly critical of the current legal framework and are not ruling out the option of seeking judicial clarification on its interpretation,” Mr Shaibu said.

He noted that the party remains engaged in dialogue with key institutions, including the Electoral Commission, the Tanzania Centre for Democracy, and various civil society groups, to push for long-term changes to the electoral system.

Keeping electoral options open

The party’s decision follows deliberations during its National Executive Committee meeting held in February 2025. The NEC mandated the leadership to determine the party’s course regarding participation in the 2025 elections.

By signing the Code, ACT Wazalendo secures the legal ground to contest in the general elections and any by-elections that may arise in the coming five years.

However, Mr Shaibu stressed that this does not automatically commit the party to contest.

“This was a tactical move to keep our options open. We have preserved the flexibility to withdraw from the election should political or legal circumstances demand it,” he said.

Wider political implications

The statement from ACT Wazalendo comes at a time when the political landscape is shifting. Main opposition party Chadema has opted not to sign the Code, leading to its exclusion from the 2025 elections—a move that has ignited national debate over electoral fairness and political participation.