The Tanzanian government has announced that all local government councils will be officially dissolved on October 31, 2025, as the country prepares for new grassroots elections set to take place in November.
The announcement marks the end of a five-year term for tens of thousands of elected leaders at the village, ward, street, and hamlet levels across the mainland. Their exit will pave the way for fresh polls scheduled for November 27, 2025, in what is expected to be one of the country’s most extensive electoral exercises in recent years.
Authorities say the dissolution is part of a constitutionally mandated process to allow for the smooth organisation and conduct of local elections. Over 12,000 villages, 4,000 streets, and more than 60,000 hamlets will participate in the vote.
Political aspirants will begin collecting and submitting nomination forms starting November 1, while official campaigns will run from November 8 to November 26. On Election Day, polls will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m, with millions of Tanzanians expected to cast their ballots for new local leaders.
The elections are widely seen as a key test of Tanzania’s democratic commitment at the grassroots level and a preview of the political landscape ahead of the 2025 general elections.
As preparations begin, both ruling and opposition parties are mobilising across the country, with heightened political activity expected in the weeks leading to the vote.
