ACT’s Othman Masoud to challenge Hussein Mwinyi in Zanzibar’s presidential polls

Unguja. ACT-Wazalendo National Chairperson and Zanzibar’s First Vice President, Mr Othman Masoud Othman, has formally entered the race for the Zanzibar presidency in the upcoming General Election scheduled for October 2025.

Mr Masoud collected nomination forms on Sunday, April 13, at the party’s headquarters in Vuga, Zanzibar, setting the stage for a likely contest with incumbent President Dr Hussein Mwinyi, who has already been endorsed by the ruling CCM for a second term.

Dr Mwinyi and President Samia Suluhu Hassan were endorsed as presidential candidates for Zanzibar and Mainland Tanzania respectively during CCM’s General Meeting held on 18 and 19 January in Dodoma.

The 2025 General Election will see voters elect Presidents for both Zanzibar and Mainland Tanzania, as well as Members of Parliament, House of Representatives, and Councillors.

Mr Masoud received the nomination forms from the party’s Secretary of the Party’s Election Committee, Mr Mhene Said Rashid, in the presence of several senior party officials. Alongside the forms, he was handed a copy of the Zanzibar Constitution and the party’s internal regulations.

“I hand over to you these forms, the Constitution, and the party rules to guide you in completing them. The deadline for returning the forms is 17 April 2025 at 4:00 p.m.—please take note,” said Mr Mhene.

Speaking shortly after the handover, Mr Masoud described the occasion as an important milestone for both the party and the country.

“Today I came to collect the forms because it is an important part of our internal party process. An election is a journey, and before we enter the national arena, we must fulfil our internal procedures,” he said.

He commended the organising committee for its efficiency in managing the nomination process, particularly for councillor and representative candidates across various regions.

“I sincerely thank you all for your support and cooperation in this process,” he added.

However, he clarified that the occasion was strictly for collecting the nomination documents, adding that official statements and media engagements would be made when he returns the forms on Wednesday, 16 April 2025.

He also expressed appreciation to party members and leaders who accompanied him for the occasion, describing their support as vital in seeking this national leadership role.

Meanwhile, ACT-Wazalendo’s Deputy Secretary General for Zanzibar, Mr Omar Ali Shekha, affirmed that all eligible party members were free to vie for any of the announced positions in both Zanzibar and Mainland Tanzania.

“Every qualified party member who meets the requirements is free to contest for any position within the party,” he said.

According to Mr Mhene, the nomination process—launched on 1 April for parliamentary, representative, and councilor candidates—was proceeding smoothly. That phase concluded on 10 April, with the window for presidential aspirants running from 12 to 17 April.

He reported a strong response across all levels, noting a high turnout of aspirants, which he said indicated increased political engagement and intense intra-party competition.

The cost of nomination forms was also confirmed: Sh1 million for presidential aspirants, Sh100,000 for parliamentary and representative candidates, and Sh30,000 for councillorship.

Mr Shekha said that in addition to fielding a presidential candidate in Zanzibar, ACT-Wazalendo intends to contest all electoral positions across the country, from the presidency to local government.

However, he reiterated that the party’s key agenda on the Mainland remains the push for constitutional reforms.

“Yes, we signed the election regulations—but that does not mean we agreed with everything in them. We followed procedure, and further steps will be taken to challenge any unfair provisions. We’re not boycotting the process—we’re engaging fully, including legal options if necessary,” he said.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) unveiled the election regulations on Saturday, 12 April, with 18 political parties endorsing the guidelines. 

The main opposition party, Chadema, declined to sign and now faces a five-year exclusion from participating in elections, according to INEC.

Mr Mhene also highlighted a notable increase in the number of female aspirants, although he did not disclose specific figures, citing the ongoing nature of the internal selection process.

He added that once the nomination forms are returned, the process will move to internal opinion polls and party nomination meetings, with final candidates expected to be confirmed by July.