Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has dismissed Information Minister Nape Nnauye following a public outcry over his remarks suggesting election rigging. Nnauye was caught on video at a political rally claiming he could help a fellow ruling party member win the 2025 election, stating that election results depend more on who counts and announces them rather than actual votes.
The former minister’s comments, which he later claimed were made in jest, sparked widespread criticism for undermining electoral democracy. In the controversial video, Nnauye boasted about his expertise in “election tricks” and mentioned various methods to ensure victory, including “legal, half legal, and illegal” means.
This isn’t Nnauye’s first brush with controversy. In 2015, he faced criticism for using a football analogy to suggest the ruling CCM party would win elections by any means necessary, even through a “handball goal.”
The CCM party, one of Africa’s longest-reigning political entities, has faced accusations of winning recent elections through fraud and state repression, though the electoral commission denies such claims.
President Hassan’s decision to remove Nnauye came as part of a broader cabinet reshuffle, which also saw the dismissal of Foreign Minister January Makamba. The move reflects the government’s sensitivity to public perception regarding electoral integrity and democratic processes in Tanzania.