HUNDREDS FEARED DEAD IN TANZANIA ELECTION PROTESTS AS INTERNET BLACKOUT PERSISTS
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Agency Report
Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, has alleged that hundreds of people have been killed in three days of violent protests following Wednesday’s general election, as the country remains under an internet blackout and tight security lockdown.
According to AFP reports, both a security source and a diplomat in Dar es Salaam confirmed that the death toll was “in the hundreds” amid ongoing demonstrations sparked by alleged electoral manipulation.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan had been seeking a decisive victory to consolidate her grip on power, but the election quickly descended into chaos after reports emerged that opposition candidates were barred, detained, or disqualified. Protesters took to the streets of major cities, tearing down campaign posters, attacking polling centres, and clashing with police, prompting a curfew and a nationwide communications blackout.
Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo denied claims of excessive force, saying:
“Currently, no excessive force has been used. There’s no number until now of any protesters killed.”
However, Chadema’s spokesperson, John Kitoka, told AFP that the situation was catastrophic:
“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.”
He warned that the death toll could rise further, with reports suggesting nighttime killings during curfew hours.
While the United Nations has confirmed at least 10 deaths based on “credible reports,” and Amnesty International said it had information of over 100 killed, journalists have faced severe restrictions and foreign media bans, limiting the flow of verified information.
Hospitals and health facilities have reportedly refused to speak to the press out of fear of reprisal.
In Zanzibar, where Hassan’s ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party was declared the winner of local elections, opposition group ACT-Wazalendo rejected the results, alleging ballot stuffing, multiple voting, and ejection of election observers from polling stations.
“They have robbed the people of Zanzibar of their voice. The only solution to deliver justice is through a fresh election,” the party said in a statement.
President Hassan has not yet commented on the violence, but analysts say the unrest underscores deep internal divisions between her government and factions loyal to her late predecessor, John Magufuli.
Rights groups had warned ahead of the polls about a “wave of terror”, including abductions, intimidation, and arrests of opposition figures.
Much of the public outrage has reportedly turned toward the president’s son, Abdul Halim Hafidh Ameir, accused by opposition groups of coordinating the crackdown.
As the blackout continues into its third day, Tanzanians remain gripped by fear and uncertainty, with many residents telling AFP they were “too afraid to speak” publicly about the unfolding crisis.
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