Crowds, largely made up of young people, gathered in major cities including Dar es Salaam, calling for electoral reforms and accusing authorities of sidelining opposition candidates in the polls.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, representing the long-ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, is widely expected to secure victory once official results are announced.
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The Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Jacob John Mkunda, on Thursday urged citizens to stay off the streets, saying the army was working with police and other agencies to restore order. He described those engaged in violent acts as “criminals” and said security forces had the situation under control.
Despite the appeal, some demonstrators returned to the streets on Friday, particularly in the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam. Authorities have since extended a night-time curfew and maintained an internet shutdown, making it difficult to verify reports circulating on social media.
Witnesses say police have used tear gas to disperse crowds, while several public offices and buildings were vandalised earlier in the week. Government officials have emphasised that the measures being taken are temporary and necessary to protect citizens and property.
In a message to the diplomatic community broadcast on state television, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs assured that the government was monitoring the situation and taking necessary steps to maintain stability.
“Owing to isolated incidents of breaches of law and order, the government has heightened security and taken precautionary measures. These are temporary but necessary steps, and normalcy will return shortly.”
The United Nations has expressed concern over reports of casualties, urging Tanzanian security agencies to exercise restraint. UN human rights spokesperson Seif Magango said credible reports indicated that at least ten people had been killed in the unrest in Dar es Salaam, Shinyanga, and Morogoro.
Amnesty International said it was unable to independently verify those figures due to the ongoing internet restrictions. Hospitals and local authorities have also declined to comment publicly on the number of casualties.
The main opposition party, CHADEMA, which boycotted the election after its leader Tundu Lissu was arrested on treason charges earlier this year, has alleged that hundreds of people have died. The government has not confirmed those figures.
According to the National Electoral Commission, results from 80 out of 100 regions have already been tallied, with President Hassan holding a commanding lead. Her main challengers, Tundu Lissu of CHADEMA and Luhaga Mpina of the ACT-Wazalendo party, were unable to participate, the former due to his detention and the latter following disqualification over legal technicalities.
On the semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar, the CCM’s Hussein Mwinyi has been declared the winner with nearly 80 percent of the vote. Opposition groups there have alleged electoral irregularities, though authorities insist the process was free and fair.
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