Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
New Delhi: Tanzania’s opposition party, Chadema, has alleged that nearly 700 people have been killed within three days of violent unrest following the country’s disputed general elections.
Chadema spokesperson John Kitoka said on Friday, “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 cited by AFP also said similar numbers were circulating within the Tanzanian army, AFP reported.
The protests erupted on Wednesday after elections that were widely perceived as unfairly favouring President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party. Demonstrations quickly spread across major cities including Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, and Dodoma, where protesters tore down posters, attacked police stations, and clashed with security forces.
In response to the escalating chaos, the government enforced an internet blackout and a nationwide curfew, cutting off much of the country. According to AFP, internet access remained restricted for a third consecutive day on Friday, and foreign journalists were barred from covering developments. Witnesses in Dar es Salaam and Dodoma described streets filled with burning tyres and a heavy police presence.
Army chief Gen Jacob Mkunda broke the official silence, calling the demonstrators “criminals” and vowing to restore order. Citing AP, hundreds of protesters have confronted police in the commercial capital, prompting the deployment of the military.
In Zanzibar, President Hussein Mwinyi of CCM was declared the winner with 78.8% of votes, according to AP. The opposition ACT-Wazalendo rejected the outcome, alleging fraud and claiming that its observers were expelled from counting centres. “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 leader told AFP.
Rights organisations had earlier warned of rising intimidation, kidnappings, and threats against opposition members before the polls. President Hassan, who took office in 2021 following the death of John Magufuli, has reportedly faced dissent within her own party and the military. Analysts say she sought a strong electoral mandate to cement her authority.
Amnesty International reported receiving information of at least 100 deaths. Chadema’s Kitoka said the party’s figures were based on reports from members who visited hospitals “counting dead bodies.” However, hospital staff have refused to speak publicly due to 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. He added, “There was no election at all. We need a transitional government to pave the way for free and fair elections.”
The government has not issued any statement on the opposition’s claims or the reported casualties. Colleges and universities have postponed reopening as tension remains high, while Tanzanians abroad are holding online meetings to support protesters, AP reported.
The United Nations urged Tanzanian authorities to avoid excessive force. “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,” UN human rights office spokesperson Seif Magango said from Nairobi.
With communications disrupted and fear widespread, witnesses said many residents remain “afraid to speak” amid the ongoing crackdown.
