In a dramatic turn of events, President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been officially declared the winner of Tanzania's presidential election, securing a second term amid significant unrest across the nation. According to the electoral commission, President Hassan won an astonishing 98% of the votes, effectively sweeping the nearly 32 million ballots cast during Wednesday's election.
International observers have raised serious concerns regarding the lack of transparency surrounding the electoral process, amidst reports of widespread turmoil that has reportedly resulted in hundreds of deaths and injuries. The ongoing nationwide internet shutdown has further complicated efforts to verify the actual death toll, raising alarm among human rights advocates and political analysts alike.
In an attempt to control the escalating violence, the government has extended a curfew across the country. "I hereby announce Samia Suluhu Hassan as the winner of the presidential election under the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party," stated Jacobs Mwambegele, the electoral chief, during the announcement of the results on Saturday morning.
In Tanzania’s semi-autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar, the ruling party's candidate, Hussein Mwinyi, who is also the incumbent president, secured nearly 80% of the vote. However, the opposition in Zanzibar has alleged massive electoral fraud, as reported by the Associated Press.
Protests erupted in major cities, including Dar es Salaam, where demonstrators clashed with police, tore down President Hassan's campaign posters, and attacked polling stations. These protests, largely led by young activists, have been fueled by accusations that the election was neither free nor fair. Many protesters claim that the government is undermining democracy by repressing opposition leaders, with one leader currently jailed and another excluded due to technicalities.
A spokesperson from the opposition Chadema party reported to the AFP news agency that approximately 700 people had died during clashes with security forces. In contrast, a diplomatic source informed the BBC that there is credible evidence suggesting at least 500 fatalities. In response to the violence, Foreign Minister Mahmoud Kombo Thabit minimized the situation, describing it as isolated incidents while asserting that security forces acted swiftly to restore order.
In the recent election, there were two main opposition candidates: Tundu Lissu, who is currently facing treason charges that he denies, and Luhaga Mpina from the ACT-Wazalendo party, who was disqualified on legal technicalities. Additionally, sixteen smaller parties, which have historically lacked significant public support, were permitted to run, while the ruling CCM party continues to dominate Tanzania's political landscape, having never lost an election since the nation's independence.
Prior to the election, various rights groups condemned the government's actions, with Amnesty International highlighting a wave of terror that included enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings of opposition figures. The government has firmly rejected these claims, asserting that the electoral process was conducted fairly and openly.
Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzania's first female president, assumed office in 2021 following the death of former President John Magufuli. As she embarks on her second term, the challenges posed by unrest, allegations of electoral fraud, and the need for genuine democratic reforms loom large over her administration.
