Tanzania opposition rejects Suluhu’s win in vote marred by protests
Tanzania’s disputed presidential election has sparked widespread protests and international concern following the announcement of the results. Officially, President Samia Suluhu Hassan secured a landslide victory with over 97 percent of the vote but her win has been met with allegations from opposition parties and rights groups that the election was “completely fabricated.”
Chadema, one of the main opposition parties has rejected the results describing the process as neither genuine nor transparent. They accuse authorities of arresting and abducting opponents and have labeled the election as a “flawed poll.” The opposition has also claimed that hundreds of protesters have been killed in clashes with security forces though the government disputes these numbers asserting the death toll is “hugely exaggerated.” The United Nations has credible reports suggesting at least 10 people died amid the unrest with witnesses describing police firing tear gas and live rounds at demonstrators in multiple cities.
In the aftermath of the vote, a nationwide curfew was imposed, and internet access was restricted as authorities sought to quell the protests. President Hassan, who accepted her certificate of victory in Dodoma condemned the demonstrators calling their actions “unacceptable, uncivilised and unpatriotic,” and praised security forces for maintaining order during the chaos. She framed her victory as a collective achievement for Tanzanians and a measure of the country’s democratic maturity, stating, “This election was a test, not only of the popularity of manifestos and development plans but also of our democracy.”
Opposition leaders including Chadema’s Tundu Lissu and ACT-Wazalendo’s Luhaga Mpina have faced political repression; Lissu has been jailed for months on treason charges after calling for electoral reforms, while Mpina was barred from running. Critics argue the election was more of a “coronation” than a contest as the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party seeks to maintain its long-standing grip on power. Since Tanzania’s independence in 1961, CCM has remained the dominant force, with President Hassan continuing the party’s legacy after her rise to power following the death of her predecessor, John Magufuli in 2021.
International observers and human rights groups have raised alarms over the election process, warning of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and arbitrary arrests ahead of the vote. The country’s political landscape remains tense with critics questioning the legitimacy of Hassan’s leadership and the fairness of the electoral process. As Tanzania grapples with these tensions, the ruling party’s ability to sustain stability and peace remains under scrutiny amid calls for genuine electoral reforms.
