The whereabouts of President Samia Suluhu are still unknown amid the ongoing post election violence in Tanzania. Even so, the international community is worried about a rising wave of protesters and fatalities in various parts of the country.
A tense situation has been escalating since Wednesday when Suluhu’s government shut down the internet, imposed a curfew, and deployed the military to the streets. Elsewhere, protesters who defied a curfew in the Mbagala, Gongo la Mboto and Kiluvya neighbourhoods of Dar-es-Salaam were met with gunfire and tear gas.
Post election violence in Tanzania Escalates
The ruling CCM Party, which has been in power since 1961 when Tanzania gained independence has been accused of misuse of power in an attempt to extend its regime.
Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo Party and Tundu Lissu of Chadema Party were both locked out under unclear circumstances.
As a result, the incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan, faced 16 other candidates from smaller parties after successfully barring the two main opposition parties barred from the polls.
Thursday news of President Hassan taking an early lead with 96.99 percent of the votes in 8 out of 272 constituencies alleged fueled anger among voters who decry suppression.
“As we speak, the number of deaths in Dar-es-Salaam is around 350 and there are more than 200 in Mwanza… If we add the figures from other places in the country, we arrive at a total of around 700 deaths.” Chadema party spokesperson John Kitoka said.
In other news, UN human rights spokesperson Seif Magango castigated Chama Cha Mapinduzi for using excessive force against citizens.
“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 de-escalate tensions,” Magango said.
Several vehicles, a petrol station and police stations have so far been set ablaze by protesters infuriated by the restricted election choices and harassment of key opposition figures.
Protesters are now demanding the national electoral body to stop announcing the results until their concerns are addressed.
President Hassan who took office in 2021 following the sudden death of John Magufuli is on the spot for what the United Nations has called a pattern of “escalating” attacks, disappearances and torture of critics.
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