Tanzania’s electoral commission has declared President Samia Suluhu Hassan winner of the country’s disputed general election, following a vote marred by violence and widespread allegations of repression.
According to official results announced early Saturday, President Hassan secured nearly 98 percent of the votes, extending her rule for another term.
However, the opposition has rejected the results, alleging large-scale irregularities and what it described as a brutal government crackdown on dissent.
Violence and Heavy Death Toll Alleged
The election, held earlier in the week, triggered violent protests across several cities, with opposition groups claiming that hundreds of people were killed in clashes with security forces.
John Kitoka, spokesperson for the opposition Chadema party, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the scale of bloodshed was unprecedented.
“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,” Kitoka said.
He added that the actual death toll could be higher due to the nationwide curfew imposed by authorities from Wednesday, which he said might have concealed additional killings.
A security source quoted by AFP also estimated that more than 500 people had died, “maybe 700–800 in the whole country.”
Human rights organization Amnesty International said it had received credible information confirming at least 100 deaths, urging authorities to rein in security forces and respect citizens’ right to protest.
Opposition Demands Transitional Government
Kitoka said Chadema’s figures were compiled from a grassroots network of party members who had visited hospitals and health centers “counting dead bodies.”
He demanded an immediate end to what he described as state violence and called for a transitional government to pave the way for new elections.
“Stop police brutality. Respect the will of the people, which is electoral justice,” he said. “Stop killing our protesters.”
Government Dismisses Allegations
The Tanzanian government has dismissed the opposition’s casualty figures as “hugely exaggerated” and denied accusations of human rights violations.
Authorities have defended the imposition of a night-time curfew and temporary internet restrictions, describing them as necessary security measures to prevent unrest.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo rejected reports of widespread violence, insisting that there had only been “very few small pockets of incidents caused by criminal elements.”
“The security services acted professionally,” Kombo said. “Claims of mass killings are false and intended to discredit our democratic process.”
International Reactions
The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has called for a “thorough and impartial investigation” into all allegations of excessive use of force during the election.
“We urge the Tanzanian authorities to ensure accountability and protect the fundamental rights of all citizens,” Guterres said in a statement.
Several international observers and civil society groups have also voiced concerns over the credibility of the electoral process, citing reports of intimidation, media censorship, and the disqualification of key opposition figures.
A Contested Mandate
President Hassan, who ran on the ticket of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, is seeking her first full term in office after assuming the presidency in March 2021 following the death of her predecessor, John Pombe Magufuli.
She faced 16 other candidates, though many prominent opposition leaders were barred, disqualified, or entangled in legal challenges, raising questions about the fairness of the contest.
Protests erupted on election day as demonstrators accused the government of stifling opposition participation and manipulating the electoral process.
Despite the unrest, the electoral commission maintained that the election was conducted in accordance with the law, and that the results reflected the will of the Tanzanian people.
