TANZANIA NOW: Exploring electoral and political party trends in Tanzania after liberalization

AFRICA SEMINAR on the current political climate in Tanzania with Thabit Jacob (RUC) and Rasmus Hundsbæk Pedersen (DIIS). Discussent: Ole Therkildsen,

Much research and media attention has been paid to developments in Tanzania under President Magufuli (2015- ). However, current political dynamics are also significantly influenced by longer-term trends in the country and within the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). While Tanzania gradually became more democratic after the reintroduction of multiparty elections in 1994-95, CCM never completely gave up its control of society. Civil society was never entirely free, newspapers were regularly banned, and the opposition struggled to mobilise support. This seminar highlights some of these broader trends and links them to the local elections in 2019, which were boycotted by the opposition. 

Thabit Jacob is a Tanzanian researcher and a doctoral fellow at Roskilde University. His research focuses broadly on the political economy of development, and specifically on Tanzanian political economy, politics and geopolitics of minerals, energy and natural resource extraction. Additionally he is interested in the involvement of state-owned enterprises in Sub-Saharan Africa, renewable energy, energy transition, land and resource conflicts, and China-Africa relations. His research and commentaries have been featured in media outlets including the BBC, The Guardian, Bloomberg, The Citizen, The Africa Report, and National Public Radio among others.

Rasmus Hundsbæk Pedersen is a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS). He has worked on a number of issues related to land and natural resource investments in Tanzania with a focus on politics, rights and local communities. He has been involved in research projects in Tanzania since 2009. He has also worked in Uganda and Ghana. See at: https://www.diis.dk/en/experts/rasmus-hundsbaek-pedersen

Ole Therkildsen is an emeritus Senior Research at the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) with extensive research, publication and public sector policy-related experience in East Africa.

This event is redirected by UCPH Global Development from Centre of African Studies.