Zanzibar Court dismisses ACT-Wazalendo election petitions

ZANZIBAR: THE High Court of Zanzibar has dismissed petitions challenging the results of the 2025 Representative elections filed by ACT-Wazalendo in nine constituencies: Tumbatu, Kijini, Bumbwini, Amani, Mwera, Mtoni, Welezo, Nungwi and Mpendae.

The petitions were dismissed after the High Court, presided over by Justice Salma Ali Hassan, heard and ruled on preliminary objections filed by the Attorney General and lawyers from the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC), who represented the returning officers of the respective constituencies.

The respondents had filed the preliminary objections challenging the manner in which the petitions had been presented. As a result, the Court considered the objections before proceeding to hear the substantive electoral cases.

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In its ruling, the High Court dismissed the petitions, meaning that the complaints filed by ACT-Wazalendo concerning the nine constituencies will not proceed to a substantive hearing on the grounds set out in the petitions.

The constituencies affected by the ruling are Tumbatu, Kijini, Bumbwini, Amani, Mwera, Mtoni, Welezo, Nungwi and Mpendae.

The ruling is part of ongoing legal proceedings arising from challenges to the results of Zanzibar’s 2025 General Election. Following the announcement of the Representative election results in the affected constituencies, some candidates and ACT-Wazalendo opted to pursue legal action challenging the results.