Keypoints:
- Samia says disputed vote harmed credibility
- Commonwealth envoy to broker reconciliation
- Opposition claims hundreds killed in crackdown
PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has conceded that Tanzania’s reputation for political stability has been severely damaged by the violence and unrest that followed last month’s disputed elections. Speaking in Dar es Salaam as she swore in her new cabinet, the president said the turmoil had undermined the country’s credibility with international lenders and could slow economic progress.
A hard truth on stability
For decades, Tanzania has portrayed itself as a calm and predictable political space in an often volatile region. But Samia told ministers that the post-election violence had left a mark that would be difficult to erase.
‘We mostly depend on loans from international creditors, but what happened eroded our global credibility,’ she said. The unrest, she added, could ‘set the country back’ if authorities failed to restore trust inside and outside Tanzania.
Samia was declared the winner of the October polls with 98 percent of the vote. Opposition parties, many of which were barred from contesting, dismissed the election as a ‘mockery of democracy’. Key opposition figures were jailed or disqualified before election day, a move that helped spark public anger.
Crackdown, blackout and contested death toll
Protests broke out after the October 29 vote, prompting a heavy crackdown by security forces. According to opposition groups, hundreds of people may have been killed during the operation, which coincided with a five-day nationwide internet blackout. During the shutdown, grisly images and videos purporting to show bodies lying in the streets circulated on private messaging channels before later spreading internationally.
The government has not released an official death toll. Human rights groups have urged transparency, while families of the missing continue to demand answers.
At least 240 people have been charged with treason since the violence, BBC News reported. Analysts say the scale of the charges underscores the severity of the state’s response and reflects the growing pressure on the political system.
Commonwealth envoy arrives to calm tensions
In a sign of rising international concern, Malawi’s former president Lazarus Chakwera is expected in Tanzania this week as a Commonwealth envoy. Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey confirmed that Chakwera will lead ‘constructive dialogue’ during a four-day mission aimed at easing tensions and encouraging political reconciliation.
He is scheduled to meet government officials, opposition leaders, civil society groups, religious and traditional authorities, and members of the diplomatic corps. The mission is seen as a critical test of whether Tanzania can de-escalate its deepest political crisis in years.
Promises of investigation and legal review
Under mounting domestic and international scrutiny, Samia announced last week that her government would launch an official investigation into the unrest. She also urged prosecutors to consider reducing or dropping charges for individuals detained for lesser offences or those not directly involved in the violence.
Samia entered office in 2021 following the death of President John Magufuli. Her early tenure brought cautious optimism as she relaxed some of the repressive policies of her predecessor. But critics say the political space has steadily narrowed again, culminating in this year’s disputed election.
Economic consequences loom
The president warned that the fallout could extend to the economy. Tanzania’s ability to secure loans from international institutions—long a pillar of its development financing—may now be hindered.
‘In the first term, we used to get loans from outside due to our stability and the progress we made,’ she said. ‘But the stain we brought upon ourselves could now hinder that.’
She urged her ministers to prioritise domestic resource mobilisation and better management of natural resources, arguing that self-sufficiency would be increasingly important as foreign support becomes less certain.
A reshuffle with a controversial twist
Samia’s new 27-member cabinet features several fresh appointments. Among them is her daughter, Wanu Hafidh Ameir, named deputy education minister. Wanu’s husband, Mohamed Mchengerwa, remains in cabinet as health minister. Seven ministers were dropped from the previous line-up.
The appointment of her daughter has drawn social media criticism, with some accusing the president of nepotism. Supporters, however, claim Wanu’s rise reflects her legislative experience and the administration’s push for generational leadership.
A country searching for direction
The combination of political division, international intervention and economic uncertainty places Tanzania at a critical inflection point. The nation now faces the challenge of rebuilding trust, addressing grievances and reasserting the stability that once set it apart in the region.
Whether the president’s promises of inquiry and reform will be enough remains unclear—but the stakes, both political and economic, are climbing.
