Police in Tanzania’s main city, Dar es Salaam, have fired tear gas to disperse opposition supporters protesting against the country’s general election | Photo credit: BBC
Tanzania has been thrown into turmoil after citizens took to the streets to protest alleged irregularities in the country’s Wednesday presidential election.
On Thursday, the electoral body announced that President Samia Hassan had taken an early lead, garnering 96.99 percent of the votes in eight out of 272 constituencies tallied.
Hassan’s two biggest challengers were excluded from the race, infuriating citizens and rights groups.
They have long accused Hassan’s administration of intensifying a crackdown against opposition members, activists, and journalists.
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Protests began to build up in the East African country on Wednesday after the elections, prompting authorities to restrict internet access and declare a curfew in Dar es Salaam, the capital city.
The military was also deployed to the streets.
There were unconfirmed reports that at least 10 people had been killed in Dar es Salaam alone.
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On Thursday, the government asked public servants to work from home.
CHADEMA, the main opposition party in Tanzania, condemned the election, saying it did not meet democratic standards.
The party referred to the polls as a “coronation” rather than a genuine vote.
CHADEMA boycotted the election after its leader Tundu Lissu was imprisoned ahead of the polls.
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Lissu is facing treason charges after calling for electoral reforms.
Luhaga Mpina, the presidential candidate for the Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT-Wazalendo), the second-largest opposing party, was disqualified by the electoral umpire.
