Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, has claimed that around 700 people have been killed in three days of violent election-related protests across the country. As quoted by news agency AFP, Chadema spokesperson John Kitoka said on Friday that “as we speak, the figure for deaths in Dar es Salaam is around 350 and for Mwanza it is 200-plus. Added to figures from other places around the country, the overall figure is around 700.” A security source also quoted by AFP claimed that they were hearing similar numbers. The source added that these figures had circulated within the Tanzanian army.
How the protests started
Protests erupted on Wednesday following a disputed general election widely seen as heavily tilted in favour of President Samia Suluhu Hassan and her ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party. The polls, also held on Wednesday, quickly descended into chaos as protesters tore down posters, attacked police stations and clashed with security forces.Demonstrators took to the streets in Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Dodoma and other regions, clashing with police and security forces.
Internet blackout and curfew amid chaos
As unrest spread, the government imposed an internet shutdown and curfew, leaving much of the country cut off. As per AFP, Tanzania’s internet was blocked for a third day on Friday, with foreign journalists largely barred from covering events. Witnesses in Dar es Salaam and Dodoma described ongoing protests, with tyres set ablaze and heavy police deployment in key areas.The only official response came from army chief Gen Jacob Mkunda, who labelled the demonstrators “criminals” and vowed to restore order. According to news agency AP, hundreds of protesters have faced off with police in the commercial capital, leading to the deployment of the military.
Zanzibar results deepen political tensions
In Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous region and key tourism hub, President Hussein Mwinyi of the CCM was declared the winner with 78.8% of votes, as per AP. The opposition party ACT-Wazalendo rejected the results, calling them fraudulent and claiming its observers were expelled from counting rooms. “They have robbed the people of Zanzibar of their voice… The only solution to deliver justice is through a fresh election,” a senior ACT-Wazalendo official said, as per AFP.
Crackdown and political backdrop
Rights groups had earlier warned of a “wave of terror” in the lead-up to the polls, citing abductions and intimidation of opposition figures. President Hassan, who succeeded John Magufuli in 2021, has faced internal challenges from within her party and the military. Analysts believe she sought an emphatic electoral victory to consolidate power amid this dissent.Amnesty International said it had received information that at least 100 people had been killed.Chadema’s Kitoka said the party’s numbers were gathered by a network of members visiting hospitals and clinics “counting dead bodies.”However, multiple hospitals and health facilities refused to speak out of fear.“Our message to the government is: Stop killing our protesters. Stop police brutality. Respect the will of the people which is electoral justice,” Kitoka said, as per AFP.He also claimed, “There was no election at all. We need a transitional government to pave the way for free and fair elections.”The government has not commented on the reported death toll or the opposition’s claims. Meanwhile, colleges and universities have postponed reopening as tensions remain high, and Tanzanians abroad have been holding online discussions to support the demonstrators, reported AP.With communications still restricted and fear pervasive, witnesses said that many residents were “afraid to speak” amid the ongoing crackdown.
UN urges restraint, condemns use of force
The United Nations on Friday urged Tanzanian authorities to exercise restraint. “We call on the security forces to refrain from using unnecessary or disproportionate force, including lethal weapons, against protesters, and to make every effort to deescalate tensions,” said UN human rights office spokesperson Seif Magango, speaking from Nairobi.
