Tanzanian opposition party Chadema on Wednesday said three of its members were killed in incidents linked to local elections and accused the authorities of rigging the vote.

Chadema chairman Freeman Mbowe said on X that one of its candidates, Modestus Timbisimilwa, was shot dead by police in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam as he attempted to stop "fake and invalid ballots" being delivered to a polling station.

Chadema said another candidate, George Juma Mohamed, was also shot dead at his home in Mkese in central Tanzania the night before.

Police said the death occurred when a group of prison officers was called in to deal with a clash between supporters of Chadema and the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party and fired "warning shots".

Another Chadema official, Steven Chalamila, was killed in a machete attack at his home in Tunduma near the border with Zambia, also late on Tuesday, according to the party.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-155-killed-in-tanzania-as-heavy-rains-lash-east-africa-714943">Also read:&nbsp;At least 155 killed in Tanzania as heavy rains lash East Africa</a>

"The nation has once again witnessed blatant and shameful misconduct from all levels of the government authorities, colluding to secure disgraceful victories for the CCM and its candidates, even at the cost of Tanzanian lives," said Mbowe on X.

He said there were numerous reports of beatings and arrests of its candidates and supporters across the country as they sought to prevent the use of fake and invalid ballots.

An AFP journalist in the western city of Kigoma saw voters clashing over alleged fake ballots, leading to arrests.

"We believe these acts are being carried out with the directives and full blessings of (President Samia Suluhu Hassan) and her government," said Mbowe.

Watch |&nbsp;China, Tanzania hold joint military drill in backdrop of anti-terror operations

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Tanzania is electing more than 80,000 local leaders, who wield considerable power in the East African nation.

It is a key test for the parties and the country's democratic institutions ahead of a presidential election next October.

"We are electing local leaders who are also important campaigners during the general election," Chadema's director of communication and foreign affairs John Mrema told AFP on Tuesday.

Hassan's CCM has been a dominant force for decades.

It has been accused of increased repression in the run-up to the vote, with Chadema saying many of its candidates were unfairly disqualified.&nbsp;

Hassan took office after the sudden death of her authoritarian predecessor John Magufuli in 2021.

She was initially feted for easing restrictions that Magufuli had imposed on the opposition and the media in the country of around 67 million people.

But rights groups and Western governments have criticised what they see as renewed repression ahead of the elections, with opposition politicians facing frequent arrests, as well as abductions and murder.

Chadema boycotted the last local elections polls in 2019 citing violence and intimidation, allowing a clean sweep for the CCM.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

Tanzanian opposition party Chadema on Wednesday said three of its members were killed in incidents linked to local elections and accused the authorities of rigging the vote.

Tanzanian opposition party Chadema on Wednesday said three of its members were killed in incidents linked to local elections and accused the authorities of rigging the vote. Chadema chairman Freeman Mbowe said on X that one of its candidates, Modestus Timbisimilwa, was shot dead by police in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam as he attempted to stop "fake and invalid ballots" being delivered to a polling station. Chadema said another candidate, George Juma Mohamed, was also shot dead at his home in Mkese in central Tanzania the night before. Police said the death occurred when a group of prison officers was called in to deal with a clash between supporters of Chadema and the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party and fired "warning shots". Another Chadema official, Steven Chalamila, was killed in a machete attack at his home in Tunduma near the border with Zambia, also late on Tuesday, according to the party. Also read: At least 155 killed in Tanzania as heavy rains lash East Africa "The nation has once again witnessed blatant and shameful misconduct from all levels of the government authorities, colluding to secure disgraceful victories for the CCM and its candidates, even at the cost of Tanzanian lives," said Mbowe on X. He said there were numerous reports of beatings and arrests of its candidates and supporters across the country as they sought to prevent the use of fake and invalid ballots. An AFP journalist in the western city of Kigoma saw voters clashing over alleged fake ballots, leading to arrests. "We believe these acts are being carried out with the directives and full blessings of (President Samia Suluhu Hassan) and her government," said Mbowe. Watch | China, Tanzania hold joint military drill in backdrop of anti-terror operations × Tanzania is electing more than 80,000 local leaders, who wield considerable power in the East African nation. It is a key test for the parties and the country's democratic institutions ahead of a presidential election next October. "We are electing local leaders who are also important campaigners during the general election," Chadema's director of communication and foreign affairs John Mrema told AFP on Tuesday. Hassan's CCM has been a dominant force for decades. It has been accused of increased repression in the run-up to the vote, with Chadema saying many of its candidates were unfairly disqualified. Hassan took office after the sudden death of her authoritarian predecessor John Magufuli in 2021. She was initially feted for easing restrictions that Magufuli had imposed on the opposition and the media in the country of around 67 million people. But rights groups and Western governments have criticised what they see as renewed repression ahead of the elections, with opposition politicians facing frequent arrests, as well as abductions and murder. Chadema boycotted the last local elections polls in 2019 citing violence and intimidation, allowing a clean sweep for the CCM. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Three opposition candidates killed as Tanzania holds local election

Tanzania's opposition party says it will boycott local elections later this month, accusing the government of impeding its candidates from running and making a mockery of democratic processes.

Chadema, the main opposition outfit that has faced increasing hostility under President John Magufuli, made the announcement late Thursday following an extraordinary meeting of its leadership.

"Our party believes it is wiser not to support such electoral cheating. To continue to participate in elections of this kind is to legitimise illegality," said Chadema president Freeman Mbowe.

Selemani Jafo, the minister for local government, expressed surprise at the decision, adding there would be remedies for candidates who felt they had been wronged.

But Chadema accused electoral authorities of being complicit in scuttling their campaign efforts.&nbsp;

Mbowe said several Chadema candidates had been outright disqualified by electoral officials from running in the nationwide November 24 polls to choose local government leaders.

Others had found registration offices closed when they tried to apply or discovered their applications had been tampered with, he added.

Rights groups say the intimidation of political opponents has escalated sharply under Magufuli, a strongman elected in 2015 whose administration has wielded wide-ranging laws to silence government critics.

Police have broken up opposition gatherings and shut down Chadema meetings, the party says.&nbsp;

Their activists have been kidnapped and beaten, and at least one has blamed authorities for an attack in 2017 which saw him shot multiple times.

Several have disappeared and turned up murdered.

"Magufuli and his party are afraid. We are not going to participate in this charade," Mbowe said of the upcoming elections.

The victors in the local polls form the political backbone for campaigning ahead of general elections slated for 2020.&nbsp;

Magufuli, whose nickname "tingatinga" means "bulldozer" in Swahili, is expected to run for another five-year term.

His rule has been marked by a democratic backslide in Tanzania, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said in a report last month.

Free media has been cowed by draconian cybercrime laws, critical newspapers and bloggers have been silenced, and opposition activists harassed unlawfully, the report stated.

Tanzania's opposition party says it will boycott local elections later this month, accusing the government of impeding its candidates from running and making a mockery of democratic processes.

Tanzania's opposition party says it will boycott local elections later this month, accusing the government of impeding its candidates from running and making a mockery of democratic processes. Chadema, the main opposition outfit that has faced increasing hostility under President John Magufuli, made the announcement late Thursday following an extraordinary meeting of its leadership. "Our party believes it is wiser not to support such electoral cheating. To continue to participate in elections of this kind is to legitimise illegality," said Chadema president Freeman Mbowe. Selemani Jafo, the minister for local government, expressed surprise at the decision, adding there would be remedies for candidates who felt they had been wronged. But Chadema accused electoral authorities of being complicit in scuttling their campaign efforts. Mbowe said several Chadema candidates had been outright disqualified by electoral officials from running in the nationwide November 24 polls to choose local government leaders. Others had found registration offices closed when they tried to apply or discovered their applications had been tampered with, he added. Rights groups say the intimidation of political opponents has escalated sharply under Magufuli, a strongman elected in 2015 whose administration has wielded wide-ranging laws to silence government critics. Police have broken up opposition gatherings and shut down Chadema meetings, the party says. Their activists have been kidnapped and beaten, and at least one has blamed authorities for an attack in 2017 which saw him shot multiple times. Several have disappeared and turned up murdered. "Magufuli and his party are afraid. We are not going to participate in this charade," Mbowe said of the upcoming elections. The victors in the local polls form the political backbone for campaigning ahead of general elections slated for 2020. Magufuli, whose nickname "tingatinga" means "bulldozer" in Swahili, is expected to run for another five-year term. His rule has been marked by a democratic backslide in Tanzania, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said in a report last month. Free media has been cowed by draconian cybercrime laws, critical newspapers and bloggers have been silenced, and opposition activists harassed unlawfully, the report stated.

Tanzania's opposition to boycott elections over 'cheating'

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