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Why ACT-Wazalendo is for three-tier Union structure
ACT-Wazalendo Union presidential aspirant Luhaga Mpina (centre), his running mate Fatma Abdulhabib Ferej (right) and Zanzibar presidential hopeful Othman Masoud arrive at Tibirinzi grounds in Pemba for a public rally following their nomination by the opposition party earlier this month. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- The party says the model—first floated during the Warioba constitutional review—would “strengthen the Union based on equality and mutual respect”
In Tanzanian politics, few promises provoke as much debate as the idea of restructuring the Union. Yet in its 2025–2030 election manifesto, ACT-Wazalendo has done just that—reviving one of the most contentious constitutional proposals of the past decade: a three-government Union.
The party says the model—first floated during Judge Joseph Warioba’s constitutional review—would “strengthen the Union based on equality and mutual respect”.
In practice, it would create three entities: a Federal Government, a Government of Tanganyika and the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar.
It’s a vision aimed, in the party’s words, at justice, mutual respect and two sovereign nations voluntarily choosing to work together. Critics, however, warn it could swell public spending and deepen political divisions.
Supporters say it is about delivering on what most Tanzanians demanded during the last constitutional reform process.
A battle tested in the court of public opinion
The roots of this debate run deep. When the Warioba Commission toured the country to gather views for a new constitution, Union structure was the hottest topic.
On the mainland, over 39,000 citizens spoke up—27,000 of them about the Union. Sixty-one percent wanted three governments; just 13 percent supported a single one.
In Zanzibar, where the Union’s terms have always stirred strong feelings, the pattern was different: 60 percent wanted a treaty-based arrangement, 34 percent backed two governments and a mere 0.1 percent—just 25 people—favored one.
The draft constitution included the three-government model, but it was later stripped out by the Constituent Assembly. The idea never quite died—and now ACT-Wazalendo is putting it back on the table.
Between vision and scepticism
For some, the move is political pragmatism. Retired Lutheran bishop Stephen Munga sees the manifesto pledge as a calculated appeal to a known constituency.
“A manifesto is a political strategy—bait on a hook,” he says. “They are speaking directly to those who still believe in that constitutional vision.”
Academics such as Dr Rwezaura Kaijage of Ruaha Catholic University call the model sound in theory but note that public misunderstanding clouds the debate.
Lawyer Stephen Mduma offers a caution: “You’d have to amend the Constitution first—and persuade citizens it’s worth the cost. More governments mean more leaders and more expenditure.”
Others, like lawyer Peter Mshikilwa, argue it’s the only sustainable fix to Union tensions, pointing out that earlier commissions—Kisanga, Nyalali—also considered it.
From the street level, voters are split. “Start with constitutional change first,” says Moshi resident Aman Ngowi. “Otherwise it’s just a wish list.”
A manifesto beyond the Union
ACT-Wazalendo isn’t betting all its political capital on the Union question. Its manifesto lays out an ambitious domestic agenda heavy on social services, infrastructure and environmental reform.
The party pledges universal health insurance through a strengthened Social Security system, plus truly free education up to university level—no hidden “contributions.”
For early childhood education student Anna Emmanuel, that’s a promise with bite. “The government says education is free, but in reality, parents still pay for many things. This would be different.”
Entrepreneur Magdalena Johnson sees universal health insurance as a game-changer in a country where medical bills can derail families. From the U.S., ICT specialist Hussein Mfinanga says subsidies for private schools should also be part of the plan.
ACT-Wazalendo wants to supercharge Tanzania’s transport backbone: a Southern Standard Gauge Railway, revived regional rail lines, strategic roads like the Cashew Ring Road, ferries and modernized ports from Mtwara to Kigoma. Energy, water and telecoms would extend deep into rural areas.
The party vows to return land taken from citizens, publish all extractive industry contracts and keep natural resources—minerals, gas, forests—under public ownership.
A green economy powered by renewables is central to the vision. By 2030, electricity generation would reach 9,365 megawatts from water, gas and solar, with prices cut by half.
The political calculus
The three-government pledge is more than a policy—it’s a litmus test of ACT-Wazalendo’s willingness to stir long-settled debates. In a political culture where manifestos often fade after elections, such a promise risks alienating voters wary of complexity or higher costs. But the party’s leaders see opportunity in unfinished business. The Warioba draft may have been shelved, but its numbers—majority mainland support, significant institutional backing—still hang in the air.
If elected, ACT-Wazalendo says it will reopen the constitutional process, establish a Joint Union Fund Account as per Article 133, clear Zanzibar’s debts and ensure the Isles fully benefit from non-Union powers. It’s a sweeping to-do list that assumes both political will and legislative cooperation.
An idea on paper
For now, the three-tier union model remains an idea on paper, nestled among pledges of better schools, cheaper power and upgraded railways. Its fate will depend on whether voters see it as a necessary correction to a flawed Union—or an expensive distraction from bread-and-butter issues.
Either way, ACT-Wazalendo has thrown down a marker in the 2025 race. In a campaign season thick with familiar promises, the party is betting that an old constitutional dream could yet become Tanzania’s political future.
