Protests erupted in Dar-es-Salaam, with hundreds taking to the streets after the two most prominent opposition candidates were disqualified from running in the presidential election.
During demonstrations following the contentious presidential election in Tanzania's largest city, police deployed gunshots. Amnesty International has confirmed that the resulting violence has led to the deaths of a minimum of two individuals.
On Thursday, the day after the election, demonstrators in the large city of Dar-es-Salaam (home to over seven million people) defied a curfew in the Mbagala, Gongo la Mboto, and Kiluvya districts, where they encountered tear gas and gunfire.
Amnesty International’s regional director for East and Southern Africa, Tigere Chagutah, issued a statement expressing that the organization had received accounts of the killing of one civilian and one police officer. He described the fatalities as “deeply disturbing” and called on law enforcement to act with restraint.
Chagutah insisted that “The Tanzanian authorities must promptly conduct a thorough and independent investigation into the unlawful use of lethal force against protesters, and the perpetrators must be held accountable.”
Throughout the city, internet access remained blocked. Despite this, hundreds of disgruntled citizens had torched polling stations and protested their unhappiness on election day.
An Al Jazeera-verified video posted on TikTok showed one protester shouting, “We have been silent for so long. What have we been doing?”
The election on Wednesday was marked by the exclusion of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s two principal rivals, an act that angered citizens and human rights organizations, which also condemn the rising suppression of opposition figures, activists, and journalists.
Even with the internet blackout, demonstrators used the Zello app to coordinate and discuss potential marches toward government structures. However, a security alert from the United States embassy reported that numerous roads nationwide, including the main route to Dar-es-Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport, were inaccessible.
Hassan assumed the presidency in 2021 following the death in office of her predecessor, John Magufuli. She has since faced mounting criticism over what the United Nations has termed a trend of “escalating” assaults, abductions, and torture targeting critics.
This is the most recent African election this month to ignite public outrage, following similar attempts by established leaders in the Ivory Coast and Cameroon to retain their positions.
Only less significant opposition candidates were cleared to run against Hassan. This followed the April disqualification of Chadema, Tanzania's main opposition party, by the Independent National Electoral Commission for its refusal to endorse an electoral code of conduct.
This action occurred shortly after the party's leader, Tundu Lissu, was detained at a rally where he advocated for electoral changes, leading to him being charged with treason.
Additionally, the commission blocked Luhaga Mpina, the candidate from the second largest opposition party, ACT-Wazalendo, following an official objection filed by the attorney general.
In June, a group of nine UN experts described the government’s conduct as “unacceptable”, reporting that they had recorded over 200 disappearances since 2019.
Furthermore, in September, Human Rights Watch (HRW) confirmed documentation of at least 10 recent cases of politically motivated assault, harassment, abduction, and torture, along with “extensive restrictions” imposed on media and civil society groups.
At that time, Nomathamsanqa Masiko-Mpaka, an HRW Africa researcher, cautioned that Tanzania’s October elections faced a “great risk”.
Masiko-Mpaka concluded, “The authorities need to stop muzzling dissenting voices and the media and instead engage in meaningful reforms to ensure free, fair and credible elections.”
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Source:- ALJAZEERA
