This article focuses on the CHADEMA dispute regarding the selection of its 19 women to special parliamentary seats after the completion of the 2020 general elections in Tanzania. It argues that the dispute is caused by the failure of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to provide political parties with a uniform and transparent modality for the selection of women to special seats against the requirement of Article 81 of the 1977 Constitution. The NEC’s failure has led to modalities of implementing women’s special seats that are incompatible with the international standards governing ‘Temporary Special Measures’ (TSM). This has led to conflict, the marginalisation and discrimination of women in special seats, ridicule of the special seats system, and a slow transition of women from special to constituency seats. The article provides suggestions on how the special seats system could be reviewed and repositioned to achieve its intended objectives.

This article focuses on the CHADEMA dispute regarding the selection
of its 19 women to special parliamentary seats after the completion of the
2020 general elections in Tanzania. It argues that the dispute is caused by
the failure of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to provide political
parties with a uniform and transparent modality for the selection of women
to special seats against the requirement of Article 81 of the 1977 Constitution.
The NEC’s failure has led to modalities of implementing women’s special seats
that are incompatible with the international standards governing ‘Temporary
Special Measures’ (TSM). This has led to conflict, the marginalisation and
discrimination of women in special seats, ridicule of the special seats system,
and a slow transition of women from special to constituency seats. The article
provides suggestions on how the special seats system could be reviewed and
repositioned to achieve its intended objectives.