Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has secured victory in the country’s disputed presidential election with more than 97% of the vote, according to official results released early Saturday, marking a rare landslide win in the East African region.
The result is expected to heighten concerns among opposition groups, critics, and civil society, who have described the election as more of a coronation than a contest, after Hassan’s two main rivals were barred or prevented from participating. She faced 16 candidates representing smaller parties.
The October 29 election was marred by violence, as demonstrators took to the streets in major cities to protest the vote and halt counting. The military was deployed to assist police in controlling the unrest. Intermittent internet shutdowns have further disrupted communications and mobility across the country.
Protests spread nationwide, prompting the government to postpone the reopening of universities, initially scheduled for October 3. Tanzanian authorities have not disclosed official casualty figures. However, Seif Magango, a spokesperson for the UN human rights office, reported credible accounts of 10 deaths in Dar es Salaam, Shinyanga, and Morogoro.
Opposition leaders have faced severe restrictions. Tundu Lissu, head of the Chadema party, has been jailed for months on treason charges after calling for electoral reforms necessary for free and fair polls. Luhaga Mpina of the ACT-Wazalendo party was barred from contesting.
The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party has maintained its decades-long hold on power despite the emergence of popular opposition figures calling for political change. A landslide victory of this magnitude is uncommon in the region, comparable only to Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s repeated overwhelming wins.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have documented patterns of enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and extrajudicial killings in Tanzania ahead of the election. A UN panel noted over 200 enforced disappearances since 2019, expressing alarm at the repression leading up to the polls.
The International Crisis Group highlighted Hassan’s “unprecedented crackdown on political opponents,” citing restrictions on freedom of expression, including bans on social media platforms like X, limitations on the Tanzanian digital forum JamiiForums, and intimidation or arrests of critical voices.
Despite Tanzania’s long history of single-party dominance since the introduction of multi-party politics in 1992, Hassan’s style has been described as authoritarian, contrasting with previous leaders who tolerated opposition while retaining firm control.
The CCM, which has maintained ties with the Communist Party of China, has governed Tanzania since its independence from Britain in 1961. Hassan rose to the presidency as vice president following the sudden death of her predecessor John Pombe Magufuli early in his second term, ensuring a smooth transition.
The orderly handover reinforced Tanzania’s reputation for political stability and relative peace, contributing to CCM’s continued popularity, particularly among rural voters.
Source: AP