By Business Insider Reporter
The African Union (AU) has concluded a 10-day Pre-Election Assessment Mission (PAM) to Tanzania, focused on evaluating the country’s overall preparedness for the presidential and legislative elections slated for October 2025.
In a statement released Sunday, the AU’s Governance and Conflict Prevention Directorate said the mission was carried out from 11 to 21 June 2025 and was led by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former Deputy President of South Africa and a prominent advocate for democratic governance and gender equality across the continent.
She was joined by high-ranking AU envoys, including Bineta Diop, the AU Special Envoy for Women, Peace and Security, and Justice (rtd) Effie Owour, Co-Chair of FemWise-Africa and a respected member of the AU Panel of the Wise – both key figures in championing inclusive political processes and peace-building initiatives.
The delegation also included representatives from critical AU bodies, notably the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN), and the Women, Gender and Youth Directorate.
Their combined expertise brought a comprehensive approach to assessing not only technical electoral preparedness but also the inclusivity, transparency, and integrity of the electoral process.
The mission placed particular emphasis on the participation of women and youth, both as voters and candidates, and engaged with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that the electoral environment supports peaceful, credible, and democratic elections aligned with continental standards.
“The mission sought to assess the readiness of Tanzania’s electoral institutions, promote women’s political participation, and examine the political environment to ensure alignment with both national democratic frameworks and continental norms,” reads the statement.
During the mission, AU delegates held consultations with high-level Tanzanian officials including Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, Minister for Community Development Dr. Dorothy Gwajima, and officials from the ministries of Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs.
Engagements also took place with the Independent National Election Commission, civil society organizations, women’s groups, the judiciary, law enforcement authorities, political party representatives, and youth organizations.
In Zanzibar, the team met with Haroun Ali Suleiman, Minister of State for Constitution, Law, Civil Service & Good Governance, the Chairperson of the Zanzibar Election Commission, and local civil society groups.
Topics of discussion ranged from electoral readiness and security arrangements to legal frameworks and inclusive participation, with a strong emphasis on the involvement of women and youth as voters and candidates. Following the assessment, the AU mission will compile its findings and submit a detailed report with recommendations to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
