DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIANS are still recovering from incidents that tarnished the country’s image during its seventh General Election since the return of multiparty democracy in 1992.
Following the polls on 29 October 2025, certain parts of the country experienced disturbances resulting in loss of life and damage to both public and private property.
In response, President Samia Suluhu Hassan established a national commission of inquiry to investigate the causes, circumstances and consequences of the crisis, aiming to uncover the truth and guide the country towards stability and reconciliation.
The President appointed retired Justice Mohamed Chande Othman to chair the nine-member commission.
Other members include retired Chief Justice Professor Ibrahim Juma, former Chief Secretary Ambassador Ombeni Sefue, Ambassador Radhia Msuya, Ambassador Lt Gen Paul Meela, retired Inspector General of Police Said Ally Mwema, Ambassador David Kapya, and Dr Stergomena Tax, former Defence Minister and ex-Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
As Tanzanians await the commission’s findings, some critics have voiced concerns about potential bias among certain commissioners, particularly Dr Tax, who was serving as Minister for Defence and National Service during the violence. Public debate regarding who should serve on a national inquiry is neither new nor unwelcome.
It reflects a politically astute society that understands the importance of a commission’s composition and mandate. However, for this scrutiny to be meaningful, it must be based on evidence rather than suspicion.
In Dr Tax’s case, the issue is not whether debate is warranted, but whether the criticism holds up under serious examination.
Overall, it does not. Instead, what emerges is a portrait of a public servant whose career has been defined by a rare combination of intellectual grounding, administrative discipline and diplomatic reach—precisely the attributes required of a commissioner tasked with navigating an election-related crisis. Election crises seldom occur in isolation.
They are often indicative of deeper institutional and socio-economic tensions. An inquiry that focuses only on surface explanations risks missing the underlying issues. Dr Tax’s academic background becomes crucial in this context.
With extensive training in international development, policy management and development economics, she brings a capacity for structured analysis.
This is not merely about qualifications on paper; it is about the ability to examine systems rather than simply list events.
In politically charged settings, such intellectual rigour is essential for a commission to distinguish between what is immediately visible and what is fundamentally causal.
If intellectual rigour provides the analytical perspective, administrative experience grounds the commission’s work in institutional reality. Dr Tax’s tenure as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of East African Cooperation is particularly relevant in this regard.
Operating at the heart of government, she was responsible for coordinating policy, managing intergovernmental relations and aligning national priorities with regional commitments.
These are not abstract tasks; they require precision, negotiation and a keen understanding of how institutions function under pressure.
An inquiry commission dealing with sensitive political issues relies heavily on such competencies. Administrative discipline is often overlooked in public discourse.
However, without it, even the most wellmeaning investigations can falter.
Dr Tax’s track record indicates familiarity with the procedural rigour necessary for such a body. Arguably, her most compelling qualification lies beyond Tanzania’s borders.
As Executive Secretary of SADC from 2013 to 2021, Dr Tax held one of the most strategically significant positions in African regional governance.
SADC is more than an economic bloc; it plays a key role in election observation, mediation and conflict prevention across Southern Africa. Leading such an institution demands more than administrative skill.
It requires political acumen, an understanding of electoral norms and the ability to navigate competing national interests without compromising institutional credibility.
In that role, Dr Tax engaged directly with electoral processes across the region, collaborating with heads of state, electoral commissions and international observers.
This experience provides a comparative perspective that is difficult to replicate, enabling her to place Tanzania’s challenges within a broader continental framework and draw on lessons from elsewhere.
Security, stability and the electoral question Critics may question her role as Minister for Defence and National Service during the election-related violence.
However, this argument overlooks a fundamental reality: elections and security are closely linked. Periods of electoral tension can quickly escalate into broader issues of public order and institutional stability.
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A commissioner with an understanding of security frameworks is not a liability but an asset. Dr Tax’s defence experience equips her to interpret signs of instability, understand the limits of state response and frame recommendations that balance democratic openness with national cohesion.
Her subsequent appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation adds another layer.
It positions her at the intersection of domestic governance and international perception—a critical consideration in an era where electoral credibility is scrutinised well beyond national borders.
Appointments of this nature are rarely arbitrary. They typically reflect a history of institutional trust.
Dr Tax’s career aligns closely with this pattern. From her leadership at SADC to her ministerial roles, she has consistently been entrusted with responsibilities requiring discretion, judgement and resilience. This pattern is significant.
It indicates that her appointment to the inquiry commission is not a random choice but part of a broader recognition of her capabilities. Dismissing this accumulated trust without substantial evidence reduces the debate to speculation.
This is not to suggest that public criticism should be silenced. On the contrary, robust debate is essential in a democracy.
However, criticism should be proportionate and evidence-based.
In Dr Tax’s case, much of the scepticism appears to rest on perception rather than demonstrable shortcomings in her record. It is also important to remember that an inquiry commission is a collective effort, not the work of a single individual.
Its strength lies in the diversity of its members. Dr Tax’s expertise in diplomacy, governance and security is intended to complement other perspectives, not overshadow them.
To argue otherwise is to misunderstand the nature of such bodies. In an era when electoral tensions can be exacerbated by misinformation and political divisions, the composition of an inquiry commission is of heightened importance.
It requires individuals capable of combining analytical clarity with political judgement, and who understand both the letter and the spirit of institutional processes. By any reasonable measure, Dr Stergomena Tax fits this description.
Her academic background offers analytical depth, her administrative career ensures procedural rigour, her regional leadership provides comparative insight, and her ministerial experience brings a nuanced understanding of security and diplomacy.
Ultimately, the credibility of the commission will be judged not by the volume of criticism surrounding its formation, but by the quality of its work.
That work will depend significantly on the competence of its members. In this regard, Dr Tax’s appointment appeared less controversial and more calculated—a deliberate effort to anchor the commission in experience and institutional knowledge.
At a time that demanded precisely those qualities, her inclusion was not merely justifiable; it was, arguably, essential
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