United Republic of Tanzania

National Assembly

Political system
Presidential system
Structure of parliament
Unicameral
IPU membership
Yes

Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.

Background

Election date(s)
28 Oct 2020
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
16 Jun 2020
Timing of election
Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections
31 Oct 2025
Number of seats at stake
377
Scope of elections
Full renewal

Voter turnout

Registered voters
29,188,347

Results

About the election

President John Magufuli’s Revolutionary Party of Tanzania (CCM, effectively in power since Tanzania's independence from the United Kingdom in 1961) took 350 of the 377 seats at stake (see note 1), up from 253 seats in 2015. The main opposition, Chadema (Party for Democracy and Development, led by Mr. Freeman Mbowe), reduced its share of seats from 70 to 20. Its Deputy Chairman Tundu Lissu, who returned from exile in July, won the sole directly elected seat for the party in 2020; Chadema had previously won 34 such seats.

In the presidential elections held in parallel with the parliamentary elections, President Magufuli was declared re-elected. His main rival Mr. Lissu (Chadema) and ACT-Wazalendo (the main opposition party in Zanzibar led by Mr. Seif Sharif Hamad) denounced the election results and called for new elections and mass protests. The National Electoral Commission denied the claims, saying they were unfounded. On 5 November, President Magufuli was sworn in for a second term (see note 2)

Despite the global COVID-19 pandemic, Tanzania did not take extensive measures against the virus. During election campaigning, the CCM ran on the government’s record, citing infrastructure projects as evidence of success. In July, the World Bank announced that the country’s economy had been upgraded from low to lower middle income status. Chadema promised several reforms, including a new constitution and the reduction of VAT and corporate tax.

Note 1:

They include 264 directly elected members, 113 women elected by political parties in proportion to their share of the electoral vote, and 5 members from Zanzibar. In addition, up to 10 members may be appointed by the President, and the Attorney General is an ex-officio member. The Speaker may be designated from outside Parliament and becomes a member of parliament by virtue of holding the office of Speaker.

Note 2:

On 18 March 2021, the government announced President John Magufuli had passed away. Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan succeeded him, thereby becoming the first woman in Tanzania to assume the presidency.

Number of parties winning seats
4
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
92.8%
Alternation of power after elections
No
Number of parties in government
1
Names of parties in government
Revolutionary Party of Tanzania (CCM)

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group Total Directly elected Women seats
Revolutionary Party of Tanzania (CCM) 350 256 94
Chadema (Party for Democracy and Development) 20 1 19
Civic United Front (CUF) 3 3 0
ACT Wazalendo 4 4 0
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
239
Number of women elected
139

Notes:

- As at 24 January 2021, out of 384 members of parliament,141 were women parliamentarians.

- Two male and two female members representing Zanzibar were subsequently elected.

- As at 24 March 2021, Parliament comprised 388 members including 143 women as follows:

245 male members:

- 238 members directly elected

- 3 members elected from Zanzibar

- 3 members appointed by the President (out of 5 members appointed so far)

- The Attorney General

143 female members:

- 26 women directly elected (out of 264 directly elected members)

- 113 women indirectly elected by political parties in proportion to their share of the electoral

- 2 members elected from Zanzibar

- 2 presidential appointees (out of 5 appointed so far)

Parliament may comprise five more presidential appointees.

Percentage of women elected
36.8%
Women Directly Elected
26
Women Appointed
2
Women Indirectly Elected
115
Sources

New legislature

Total number of men after the election
245
Total number of women after the election
143
Percentage of women after the election
36.9%
First-term parliamentarians
No information available
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
No information available
Date of the first session
10 Nov 2020

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
Job J. Ndugai (Male)
Date of birth: 1960
Political party
Revolutionary Party of Tanzania (CCM)
Date of election
10 Nov 2020

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No