Keypoints:
- Election crackdown deepens mistrust
- Rights groups demand accountability
- Tanzania’s democratic future in question
IT has been a harrowing and deeply unsettling November for millions of Tanzanians. The weeks following the October 29 election have been overshadowed by disturbing scenes of bloodshed, a heavy security clampdown, and a level of state secrecy that has left both citizens and observers grasping for clarity. While the country has known political tension before, the intensity of the recent violence has stunned many who long regarded Tanzania as a relatively stable and predictable democracy in a volatile region.
What truly unfolded across the country remains obscured. An extensive internet shutdown prevented journalists, local organisations, and ordinary citizens from sharing information. Communities were cut off from one another, and curfews in several towns left people confined to their homes, relying on rumour and fear as their only sources of information. Shops linked to the ruling party were vandalised as anger simmered, but the extent of the unrest was impossible to verify in real time.
Human Rights Watch quoted John Kitoka, Director of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs for CHADEMA, who said the opposition had documented reports of up to 1,000 people killed by police and unidentified security personnel across eight of the country’s thirty-one regions. Neither the government nor independent observers have confirmed these numbers, and rights groups suggest the real toll may be far higher.
Outrage grows amid silence from authorities
Across Tanzania, shock has given way to grief and fury. Many cannot comprehend how security forces could turn such brutality on unarmed civilians. In previous electoral cycles, Tanzanians had believed their country stood above the worst forms of political violence seen elsewhere in the region. But those assumptions have now been shattered.
At the heart of the crisis is the government’s refusal to provide clarity about the events that unfolded. Without independent verification, the truth remains elusive. Rights defenders argue that the lack of transparency is itself a form of violence, denying families closure and preventing the nation from confronting the gravity of what happened. The fear now is that impunity will take root, making this kind of brutality a permanent feature of Tanzania’s political landscape.
‘Tanzania’s long-held reputation for calm has been ripped apart, and the government’s refusal to confront the violence is driving an even wider crisis of public trust’
Calls for accountability meet a wall of resistance
Demands for accountability have intensified. Activists, civil society organisations, and the UN High Commission for Human Rights have urged the government to allow an independent investigation. Yet there is little sign that the authorities intend to open the doors to scrutiny. Without international pressure, many believe no inquiry will occur, and those responsible for the abuses will continue acting with impunity.
The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party emerged victorious from the election after violently quashing protests and effectively sidelining the opposition. Election boycotts compounded the chaos, leaving many Tanzanians feeling disenfranchised and powerless. Instead of calming the nation, the government’s actions have deepened mistrust.
Observers worry that this pattern of repression could worsen. Young people, confronted with unemployment and a stagnating economy, may increasingly turn to dissent and resistance movements. Communities traumatised by the violence are now grappling with profound uncertainty about their safety and their future.
President Hassan sworn in under a heavy cloud
Despite the turbulence, the electoral commission announced that President Samia Suluhu Hassan had secured a landslide 97.66 percent of the vote. On November 3, she was swiftly sworn in for a second term at a ceremony closed to the public, reflecting the tense atmosphere gripping the nation.
Human Rights Watch’s Oryem Nyeko condemned the government’s conduct, saying the violent response to election-related protests had further eroded confidence in the process. He stressed that while governments have a duty to maintain security, they must also respect rights and prosecute those responsible for abuses. HRW had previously warned that the Tanzanian government had ‘intensified political repression, suppressed political opposition and critics of the ruling party, and stifled the media.’
Regional observers raise red flags
Regional and continental bodies echoed some of these concerns. The SADC Electoral Observation Mission criticised the polls, saying they failed to meet the bloc’s own democratic standards. Its observers reported harassment, including passport seizures, forced deletion of photographs, and intimidation by security forces. They also noted low voter turnout, gunfire from police, and the internet blackout, all of which undermined the credibility of the vote.
The African Union mission, led by former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi, said plainly that the election did not comply with AU principles and international obligations for democratic elections. Masisi urged authorities to conduct ‘thorough investigations’ into the violence and to exercise restraint. But the AU’s statement stopped short of calling for a new vote.
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation took an even firmer stance, writing directly to President Hassan in a pointed letter titled ‘Madam President, This Is Not Acceptable.’ The organisation voiced its alarm about the violence and the government’s heavy-handed tactics.
Opposition figures face mass arrests
The days following the election saw sweeping arrests. On November 10, authorities detained activists and opposition members, charging at least 145 people with treason and criminal conspiracy. These are extraordinary charges by any standard, intensifying fears that dissent is being criminalised wholesale.
Yet in a contradictory development, police later released several senior Chadema officials on bail, including Deputy Chairperson for the Mainland, John Heche. Critics say this inconsistency reflects a government struggling to balance intimidation with the need to mollify international partners.
‘Reconciliation means little without truth; until those responsible for the bloodshed are held to account, Tanzanians will continue to live with fear, anger, and unanswered questions’
Tanzania at a crossroads
The question now facing Tanzania is stark: can the country recover from this violent rupture? For decades, it was seen as a model of relative calm in East Africa, often held up against neighbours like Kenya and Uganda, which have grappled with volatile election cycles. But the recent events have shaken that reputation to its core.
Families are still searching for loved ones who disappeared during the crackdown. Survivors describe a security apparatus that acted with total impunity. Without accountability, trust between the state and its people will continue to erode.
The reaction of the opposition remains uncertain. Will they push for a broader movement demanding justice, or will the mass arrests weaken their momentum? Much depends on whether the government shows any willingness to engage in dialogue or initiate reforms.
Hints of reconciliation — but questions linger
In a notable moment, Vice President Emmanuel Nchimbi addressed the media, saying it was President Hassan’s intention to begin a process of reconciliation that would allow the minority to be heard. He spoke of building a nation grounded in peace, unity, and stability. Yet the President herself has remained silent, raising doubts about how genuine or coordinated these gestures truly are.
For many Tanzanians, reconciliation without accountability rings hollow. Healing requires truth, openness, and a willingness to confront state abuses — none of which have been fully demonstrated.
The road ahead
Whether Tanzania can emerge from this crisis depends on the political leadership’s next steps. Will they open space for dialogue? Will they allow investigations? And will they demonstrate the humility required to restore trust?
The international community will also shape the path ahead. Pressure from regional bodies, donor governments, and global institutions may push the administration toward greater transparency. But ultimately, it is Tanzanians themselves — bruised yet resilient — who will determine their country’s trajectory.
Crystal Orderson is a respected South African journalist and freelance contributor to the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation
