Hundreds of people have been killed in Tanzania in three days of protests following Wednesday’s general election, the country’s opposition party said.
A spokesman for the Chadema group told AFP News Agency that “700” people died in the conflict with security forces. A nationwide internet shutdown makes it difficult to verify reports of deaths.
The BBC spoke to a political source in Tanzania who said there was credible evidence that at least 500 people had died.
Demonstrations have been taking place in major cities with young protesters rejecting votes as unfair as important opposition figures have been banned from opposing President Samia Suhuha Hassan.
Demonstrations continued on Friday in the main city of Es es Salaam – in the areas of Salasala, Bombo and Tegeta – As the demonstrators defied the warnings of the head of state.
“Some people went to the streets on 29 October and committed criminal acts. These criminals and criminal acts must be stopped immediately,” said the army to control the situation “.
The government has sought to play down the scale of the violence – and authorities have extended curfews in a bid to end the unrest.
It has been difficult for journalists and human rights groups to track down reports of deaths due to the shutdown of the Internet.
Hospitals across the country declined to provide details when asked about the cause.
A source at one referral hospital in Dar es Salaam told the BBC it had been overwhelmed by injuries since Thursday.
The source added that they had heard this too and there were other public hospitals in the city where morgues were reported.
The UN has called on the East African nation’s security forces to refrain from using unnecessary or disproportionate forces.
“We are appalled by the deaths and injuries in the ongoing election protests in Tanzania. Reports we have received indicate that at least 10 people have been killed,” human rights spokesperson Seif Magango was quoted as saying earlier on Friday.
The BBC understands that ambassadors from some international embassies have joined the Tanzanian government to call for restraint in the security forces involved in the protests.
On Friday, the Electoral Commission announced the results from about 270 of the country’s 272 constituencies, according to State Broadcaster TBC.
The BBC understands that international viewers reported a surprise turnout during the vote on Wednesday.
President Samia is expected to get a vote under the ruling Chama MapInduzi (CCM) party, which has ruled the country since independence in 1961.
Official results are expected on Saturday.
In the Tanzanian Archipelago in Zanzibar, Tanzania’s Zanzibar – which formed its Government and its Leader – CCM’s Hussein MWININEI, who is a strong president, won almost 80% of the votes.
The opposition in Zanzibar said there was a “massive deception”, AP News Agency reported.
Visitors to the island were also reported to have been pulled from the airport, with flight delays due to the protests, which took place in the center, and internet shutdowns.
Pustrist from Kenya Music Music said he was tired for three days in Tanzania due to communication problems.
“The Internet, stores, gas stations, email, social media, everything was down. No international or outgoing calls. No text or international calls.
“Many flights have been cancelled, Tanzanian national flights have been grounded. There were so many people stranded at the airport who could not book tickets or cancel their flights due to black communications,” he said.
The protesters accused the Government of undermining democracy, as the main opposition leader, Tundu Lissi, is in prison and the rest of the opposition was eligible for the election, strengthening Samia’s chances of winning.
Lissi is being prosecuted for treason, which he denies, and his party voted for.
The only other serious opposition, Luhaga Mpina of the ACT-WAZalendo Party, was put on the ballot.
Fourteen fringe parties, none of which has significant public support, were cleared to contest the elections.
Samia came to power in 2021 as Tanzania’s first female President following the death in office of President John Magulifuli.
He was initially praised for easing political pressure, but political space has since waned, with his government accused of targeting critics with arrests and detentions.
Additional reporting by Stewart Maclean and Basilioh Rukanga
Polling day itself was marred by conflict, particularly in the main city of DAR es Salaam [Reuters]
An electrician was fired to disperse the demonstrators – this protest was in the town of Namanga, on the border with Kenya [Reuters]
Many of the senators chose not to vote because they said the main opposition parties were not on the ballot [Reuters]
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