A TOTAL of 423 members of the opposition ACT-Wazalendo party have declared their intention to contest parliamentary and councillorship positions in the upcoming General Election, scheduled for October this year.

The party has also extended the deadline for members to collect and submit nomination forms for a range of leadership positions, including councillorship, parliamentary seats, and roles in the Zanzibar House of Representatives.

Speaking at a press conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday, ACT-Wazalendo Secretary General Ado Shaibu announced that of the 423 aspiring candidates, 317 are seeking parliamentary seats on the Tanzanian mainland, while 106 are vying for representative positions in Zanzibar.

As part of the revised timeline, the party has granted an additional 38 days—effective immediately and running until 25 May—for those interested in contesting the presidency of the United Republic of Tanzania, the presidency of Zanzibar, and councillorship positions. Meanwhile, candidates for parliamentary, representative, and special seats have been given an extension of 44 days.

“I would like to take this opportunity to urge ACT-Wazalendo members to come forward and collect nomination forms for positions including the presidency, parliament, representation, and local councils. Anyone who believes they have what it takes to lead Tanzania—our doors are still open,” said Shaibu.

He also noted that, as of yesterday, the party’s National Chairman, Othman Masoud Othman, remained the only member to have collected nomination forms for Zanzibar presidency. He therefore called on other eligible members to step up and contest the nomination through internal party processes.

The party further encouraged active participation of women, young people, and persons with disabilities in the nomination process, highlighting this as a crucial step towards deepening democratic values and ensuring that leadership opportunities are inclusive and representative.