Key points:
- Tear gas fired as protests erupt in Dar
- Opposition leader Lissu barred from race
- Internet outage hits voters nationwide
POLICE in Tanzania’s commercial hub, Dar es Salaam, fired tear gas on Wednesday to disperse hundreds of protesters as the East African nation went to the polls.
According to reports by AFP, crowds of mostly young people took to the streets, setting fire to a police station despite a heavy security presence across the city. Armoured vehicles were stationed at key intersections, and a military truck was seen moving through the crowd but did not intervene.
The unrest broke out as President Samia Suluhu Hassan, 65, sought a renewed mandate in an election widely seen as tilted in her favour. Her main challenger, Tundu Lissu, is currently on trial for treason, and his party, Chadema, has been barred from contesting.
Internet blackout and low turnout
Internet watchdog NetBlocks reported what it described as a ‘nationwide disruption to internet connectivity’, noting a sharp drop in online access as voting began. The outage sparked concerns about transparency during the election and further inflamed anger among Lissu’s supporters.
Journalists from AFP observed low voter turnout in Dar es Salaam, with several polling stations nearly empty during the morning hours. Election officials have not yet explained the poor participation.
Rare protests amid economic stability
Protests of this scale are rare in Tanzania, where relative political calm has coincided with steady economic growth. The World Bank reported that the economy expanded by 5.5 percent last year, supported by strong performance in agriculture, tourism, and mining.
Still, political tensions have simmered since Hassan’s rise to power in 2021 following the death of her predecessor, John Magufuli. While she was initially praised for easing restrictions on political activity, opposition groups say her government has tightened control ahead of this election.
Hassan faces legitimacy test
President Hassan’s administration has sought to project stability, highlighting infrastructure projects and regional cooperation. However, the heavy-handed response to dissent and reports of an internet shutdown have drawn criticism at home and abroad.
Analysts say that even if President Hassan secures victory, questions over the credibility of the vote could shadow her next term.
