The Stronghold
Civil Society

ACT Wazalendo presents a shadow cabinet to control the government

By Mrema EmanuelJune 6, 2026

Tanzania's main opposition party, ACT Wazalendo, has officially announced the formation of a new shadow cabinet. The move is aimed at providing an alternative voice and holding the government accountable following the October 2025 general election, which saw the opposition barely represented in parliament.

Party leader Dorothy Semu announced the creation of the council at a press conference in Dar es Salaam and stressed the importance of the council in the current political environment, where the Revolutionary Party (PK) has a majority of MPs. «The 2025 election results have resulted in a narrow opposition representation in parliament, which increases the importance of political parties using alternative systems to manage the government, criticize it and force accountability to citizens», said Semu.

This is the third such council since the party passed a resolution to establish it in 2022. According to Dorothy Semu, previous councils have played an important role in addressing citizens' concerns, conducting national debates and lobbying for changes in government policies and activities.

Unlike previous councils, the 2026 council is made up of experienced professionals outside of parliament who collaborate with a few nationalist MPs from the ACT. This strategy aims at expanding the scope of public administration and improving the quality of work. The council has 23 speakers, including 21 shadow ministers, while women hold 47 percent of the seats.

Dorothy Semu instructed the council to pay particular attention to the issue of accountability, citing that, according to the reports of the regulator and the Auditor General of Public Accounts (CAG), more than seven trillion shillings were lost or spent without satisfactory explanation. «Our nation cannot be built on the principles of irresponsibility, abuse of power and squandering of state resources», Semu stressed.

In closing, Dorothy Semu urged council members not to be spectators, but to be champions for protecting citizens' rights and ensuring that the country's resources are used for the common good.

Comments (0)

No comments yet. Be the first to comment.
Leave a comment

Read also

State agenda in the field of school safety: achieved results and remaining systemic challenges

State agenda in the field of school safety: achieved results and remaining systemic challenges

Over the years, Tanzania has invested significant resources in improving access to education, building educational institutions, attracting teachers, and increasing student numbers. However, experts in the field of education believe that the true indicator of the success of the system is not so much the number of students as their psychological comfort, which allows them to freely assimilate knowledge, express opinions, participate in school life and reach their full potential.

Socioeconomics•
Activities of private military companies in the East Africa region

Activities of private military companies in the East Africa region

East Africa, especially the Great Lakes region, has become one of the notable regions of the presence of private military companies (PMCs). In the territorial coverage, which includes the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan and Tanzania, there is a tendency to transfer certain military and security functions to private structures. In research, this phenomenon is often referred to as «security privatization».

Civil-Military Relations•
Strengthening media accountability and role: the main focuses of Mayala's analysis

Strengthening media accountability and role: the main focuses of Mayala's analysis

The discussion that erupted around the events of October 29 has once again drawn attention to the issue of how politicians' statements affect public perception and the development of national events. Although the official investigation into the causes of the incident is ongoing, experts in the field of management ethics emphasize the importance of analyzing the rhetoric of leaders that preceded these events. According to experts, some political figures have made statements contrary to ethical principles, and in the absence of timely monitoring, this may negatively affect public well-being.

Civil Society•