Tanzania Poll: Suluhu Declared Winner, Opposition Alleges Mass Killings

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been declared winner of the national election with 97.66 per cent of the vote, according to results announced on Saturday.

The election took place during heavy tension, protests, and strong complaints from the opposition.

The electoral commission announced the results on Saturday on state television, saying Hassan won in every constituency. State TV also announced that a “quick swearing-in ceremony” will take place later on Saturday. However, many groups believe the election was not free or fair, raising fear about the country’s democratic future.

The opposition party, Chadema, rejected the result and claimed that hundreds of people were killed after security forces fired at protesters who came out on Wednesday after the election. A party spokesperson said, “Around 700 people have been killed,” explaining that the figure came from hospital and clinic records across the country. Independent sources — including a security contact and a diplomat in Dar es Salaam — also told AFP that the deaths were “in the hundreds.”

Hassan first became president in 2021 after the death of John Magufuli. In this election she faced almost no strong challengers because top opposition candidates were arrested or blocked from contesting. Chadema’s presidential hopeful was facing a treason trial and the party itself was banned from running.

Rights groups accused the government of creating fear before voting, saying kidnappings and threats increased as the election day got closer. Observers described the situation as a “wave of terror.”

On Wednesday, protesters removed posters of Hassan and clashed with security forces near polling centers in major cities. The situation led to an internet shutdown and a nationwide curfew. Journalists were stopped from reporting freely, and many local news websites have not been updated since Wednesday morning.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo denied claims of mass killings, saying, “Currently, no excessive force has been used. There’s no number until now of any protesters killed.”

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “deeply concerned” about the growing crisis, including “reports of deaths and injuries during the demonstrations.” His office called for calm and urged Tanzania to respect human rights.

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