Days of tension, insecurity, and uncertainty have marked Tanzania following the country’s general elections in October. The country was already facing criticism for its political limitations, but is now in the midst of a wave of protests, clashes, and reports of deaths in these conflicts. The opposition claims hundreds of victims, but the government denies any use of force or violence. Distressed by this situation, international organizations are calling for calm and investigations. The civilian population, caught in the middle of this scenario, is trying to understand what is really happening.
Disputes in Tanzania increase the number of victims and the rise in violence
The climate of distrust in Tanzania has been growing due to discrepancies over the number of deaths. The Chadema party claimed that at least 700 people have lost their lives in some regions of the country. Its members alleged that they visited hospitals to arrive at this estimate. In Dar es Salaam and Mwanza, the cities most affected by the violence, reports indicate intense clashes since election night.
The government has denied all accusations made so far. The country’s Foreign Minister stated that there were no official records of deaths, and also denied the use of excessive force. According to the authorities, these episodes of violence involve only isolated groups of vandals and sporadic reactions from security forces.
Meanwhile, the UN points to another scenario. The human rights office stated that it has reliable reports of at least ten deaths caused by state security; the organization warns that this situation may be more serious than it appears. The discrepancy between the accounts shows the magnitude of the information crisis in the country.
Protests spread, and the police response expanded
The streets of Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Shinyanga, and Morogoro have been occupied by protesters since election day. Some protests arose in reaction to the exclusion of the main opposition candidates. This situation generated outrage among citizens, who felt limited by not being able to have a fair contest. Vehicles, public buildings, and even a gas station were set on fire as a form of protest.
With the increase in protests, the government reinforced the military presence and expanded actions to contain the demonstrators. Curfews were implemented, taxes were increased, and residents reported the use of tear gas, gunfire, and police roadblocks to contain the demonstrations. According to the UN, this repression has been disproportionate, as it creates a widespread sense of fear among people, even those who previously did not intend to participate in the demonstrations.
Contested elections and an increasingly tight political scenario
Long before the actual voting took place, this year’s elections were already facing criticism. The Electoral Commission barred important candidates, such as Tundu Lissu, leader of Chadema, who was arrested a few days before for calling for reforms to the electoral process. Other important opposition figures were also deemed ineligible by the government. These actions were enough to fuel the idea of ​​election manipulation to favor the ruling party, the CCM.
International intervention and calls for investigation
At this moment, Tanzania is trying to find a balance between the conflicts, the revolted population, and the government under pressure. These next few weeks will be crucial in understanding the level of the crisis in the country, whether it will worsen, or if there will be room for dialogue.
The actions of the UN and the international community can help, but the solution to this scenario of political conflict in the country depends mainly on internal transparency on the part of the government. Meanwhile, citizens live between the fear of the conflicts and the feeling of hope for change in the country. Tanzania is facing a crucial moment in its recent history.