Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chino’no has accused African Union Chairperson Mohamed Youssof of endorsing electoral fraud in Tanzania by congratulating President Samia Suluhu after a damning report from the AU’s own observer mission.
In a post on X, Chino’no described the African Union Election Observation Mission’s findings as more scathing than the SADC report and questioned how Youssof could celebrate what he called “a scam and a fraud.
He said the AU leadership had betrayed its mandate to defend democracy and human rights across the continent.
The AU mission, led by former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi, documented serious violations before, during, and after Tanzania’s 2025 elections.
It cited arrests of opposition leaders, disqualification of candidates, biased electoral administration, and violence in major cities including Dar es Salaam and Mwanza.
Observers said the exclusion of CHADEMA’s leadership and the blocking of ACT-Wazalendo’s candidate undermined competition.
“These developments diminished the credibility of the polls,” the AU report stated, noting that the process violated the African Charter’s principles on political participation and equality.
The report also pointed to deep legal flaws, including the ban on independent candidates and the inability to challenge presidential results in court.
It said the president’s control over the electoral commission and the involvement of senior state officials as returning officers compromised institutional independence.
In addition, the AU cited media censorship, internet shutdowns, and intimidation of journalists and monitors.
Ballot irregularities, early polling closures, and expulsion of observers were also reported, while security forces were accused of using excessive force against protesters.
The observer mission concluded that the elections did not comply with AU principles or international obligations for democratic elections.
It urged Tanzania to reform its electoral laws, strengthen media freedoms, and ensure genuine political competition.
Chino’no’s criticism has added to growing frustration among Africans who see the AU’s silence as a betrayal of its founding values.