The political climate in Tanzania has been on edge since the general elections on 29 October. Samia Suluhu Hassan was elected to a second term, and while protests initially started in Dar es Salaam, there has been a shift in the country, and demonstrations are now countrywide. People are angry about the elections.
The public felt angry and frustrated following the election
When Samia Suluhu Hassan and the Nguvu Moja party, formerly known as the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), won, the public felt angry and frustrated. Opposition parties said the elections were rigged, there was voter intimidation, and there was the unfair distribution of voter polls in key areas. The public also felt angry about the lack of transparency in the vote-counting process in the National Electoral Commission.
The protests are the most significant inconvenience to Hassan since she took office. Her promises to the public about being open and reconciling with the nation are now turning into accusations of the country losing its democracy. Many people in Tanzania are now starting to wonder about the country’s reforms.
A breaking point in Tanzanian democracy?
Given the scale and continuity of the demonstrations in the past year, one could argue that the points marked in the Journal of Democracy mean that Tanzania, after many years, has finally received its first pressing challenge to its governance, accountability, and stagnation.
Tanzania was one of the first examples of a stable democracy in East Africa. It seems, politically, things are beginning to change, and the change may not be for the better.
Democracy stagnation – Tanzania was one of the first examples of a stable democracy in East Africa. It seems, politically, things are beginning to change, and the change may not be for the better. Activism, in many ways described by the Journal of Democracy, has been greatly organized by civil society and the youth of the country. Organized on the social platforms for electronic democracy of their protests, these young activists brought focus to the issues of democracy in the lead-up to the elections.
Digital activism, such as in the X (formerly Twitter) of #RestoreDemocracy, is providing citizens with the tools to submit their demands to the government.
Unrest and socioeconomic divide in Tanzania
The main reason for the protests was the denial of the election. However, the protests gained so much momentum and support because of the underlying economic issues that were affecting the citizens of Tanzania. The country experiences high levels of unemployment and inflation. T
The high inflation and unemployment levels lead to and justify the increasing levels of perceived corruption. Many protestors demand the resignation of the president, expressing, in their demands, the deep economic and systemic inequalities that have burdened the citizens.
Both accounts confirm that the protests are not only about the elections, but also demand a more accountable and inclusive political order. The only question that remains is whether the government will respond to these challenges with more meaningful reforms or simply more repression.
President Hassan has requested calm and the intention to converse
Government security forces have taken a heavy-handed approach to relative unrest in several cities, deploying tear gas and arresting hundreds of demonstrators. As tensions unjustifiably rise, regarding government response, a lack of rational action is poised to calm unrest.
International bodies such as the African Union and the United Nations have provided stimulus and called for calm from all parties.
After 3 weeks of protests, Tanzania remains in a fragile position. The Conversation and the Journal of Democracy focus the world’s attention on the Tanzanian people, proclaiming that the democratic movement is the strongest Tanzania has ever experienced. The government’s position is clear, but for how long will they be able to hold the status quo?