Judge Jacobs Mwambegele, Chairperson, INEC and Ramadhani Kailima, Director of Elections, INEC

As Tanzania prepares to head to the polls this October, the political landscape is marked by heightened public interest, as the main opposition party, Chadema, announced that it will boycott the polls. Chadema cited a refusal to sign the Electoral Code of Conduct while championing the  ‘No Reforms, No Elections’ slogan even as its Chairman, Tundu Lissu, faces treason charges. At the helm  of the Independent  National Election Commission (INEC), are Judge Jacobs Mwambegele and  Ramadhani Kailima, two figures whose roles and decisions will shape conversations and possible outcomes in the highly anticipated general election.

Judge Jacobs Mwambegele, Chairperson, INEC

Court of Appeal Judge Jacob Mwambegele took over as the new Chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2021, replacing retired Judge Semistocles Kaijage. Judge Mwambegele had served at the Court of Appeal for five years before taking over from his predecessor.

Judge Mwambegele will steer the Commission in administering a credible electoral system that ensures free and fair elections by supervising and coordinating elections in accordance with the law.

Ramadhani Kailima, Director of Elections, INEC

Ramadhani Kailima was appointed the Director of Elections by President Samia Suluhu Hassan in February 2023. Kailima took oath on February 27, 2023, at the State House in Dodoma, becoming the Director of Elections for the second time. Earlier, he held the position from July 25, 2015, to July 1, 2018. Before this, Kalima served as Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs until he was appointed Deputy Permanent Secretary in the President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government.