DAR ES SALAAM, June 18 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU)'s special pre-election assessment mission has praised Tanzania for its solid preparations ahead of the country's general elections scheduled for October, according to a statement released Wednesday by the Prime Minister's Office.
The commendation was made on Tuesday during a meeting between Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa and the AU mission, led by former South African Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, and comprising 16 other delegates, in the port city of Dar es Salaam.
The mission's objective is to assess the East African country's electoral preparedness, including the political environment, in line with the democratic principles outlined in the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.
"We are pleased to see the active engagement of political stakeholders in Tanzania, and we are impressed by the significant reforms, particularly in systems and policies, that the government has recently implemented to enhance citizen participation in the electoral process," said Mlambo-Ngcuka in the statement.
"Tanzania has a history of peaceful elections, and we are confident this tradition will continue," she added.
Mlambo-Ngcuka also noted the mission's appreciation of the increasing participation of women in politics, describing it as a positive step toward achieving gender parity in leadership and governance.
In response, Majaliwa assured the delegation that Tanzania is fully prepared to hold free, fair, and peaceful elections, as it has consistently done in the past.
During the 2025 general elections, eligible Tanzanians will vote to elect councilors, members of parliament, and the president. ■