Tanzanian President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, was declared the winner of Saturday’s election with 97.66 per cent of the vote and a reported 87 per cent turnout, according to the electoral commission.
However, observers and AFP journalists noted that many polling stations were largely empty.
The announcement has sparked nationwide unrest, with the opposition party, Chadema, claiming that hundreds of protesters have been killed by security forces.
Chadema spokesman, John Kitoka, described the election results as a “mockery of the democratic process” and called for a fresh election.
Hassan, 65, who became president following the sudden death of John Magufuli in 2021, defended her government’s actions, stating that national security requires all necessary defense measures.
She accepted her winner’s certificate on state television while condemning violence.
Reports indicated that the unrest has disrupted daily life:
Flights and the main port at Dar es Salaam have been suspended.
Public transport is halted, and petrol stations and shops are running low on supplies.
Internet blackouts and curfews remain in effect.
Human rights groups have accused Hassan’s administration of a “wave of terror” ahead of the election, including abductions and the barring of opposition candidates.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern about the situation.
The African Union congratulated Hassan but expressed regret over the loss of life.
Meanwhile, some reports suggested tensions between security forces and protesters, though the army has officially backed the president.
The election and subsequent crackdown have raised serious concerns about democratic governance and human rights in Tanzania, with both domestic and international communities monitoring the situation closely.
