President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been officially declared the winner of Tanzania’s presidential election, securing her position for another term amid ongoing unrest across the nation. The electoral commission reported that she received approximately 98% of the votes from the 32 million ballots cast during the recent election. Despite this result, international observers have raised concerns regarding the election’s transparency and the reported unrest that has led to numerous casualties.
Days following the election, a nationwide internet shutdown has complicated efforts to verify reports of violence. While the government has attempted to downplay the situation, authorities extended a curfew to manage the unrest. Jacobs Mwambegele, the electoral chief, announced Hassan’s victory under the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, a political entity that has maintained dominance since Tanzania’s independence.
In Zanzibar, Tanzania’s semi-autonomous archipelago, incumbent president Hussein Mwinyi of CCM also achieved victory with nearly 80% of the votes. However, opposition parties in Zanzibar alleged significant electoral fraud. Protests erupted in various cities, including Dar es Salaam, where demonstrators expressed their dissatisfaction with the election process, with some claiming the election was unfair. The dissent appears to be primarily driven by younger individuals who argue the government has suppressed democracy by detaining or excluding key opposition leaders.
Opposition spokespersons have reported a high number of fatalities in clashes with security forces, while alternate sources have indicated that the death toll could be substantial. The government characterized the violence as isolated incidents and has claimed that security forces took decisive action to restore order. Notably, two leading opposition candidates faced challenges: Tundu Lissu is currently detained on treason charges, while Luhaga Mpina was eliminated from the race due to legal technicalities. Observers highlight that human rights concerns have been raised, with accusations against the government related to repression and violence against opposition figures, claims the government has denied.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2ww0e0jewo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss