Mass protests have broken out across major cities in Tanzania following Wednesday’s presidential and parliamentary elections, which opposition supporters and international observers have described as deeply flawed.
According to reports monitored by Hobnob News, demonstrators took to the streets in Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, and Mwanza, accusing the government of manipulating the polls to secure victory for incumbent President Samia Hassan.
Eyewitnesses said hundreds of protesters also crossed into Kenyan territory, barricading roads, burning tyres, and tearing down posters of the president. Kenyan authorities confirmed that two people died while fleeing running battles with Tanzanian police.
The unrest erupted as the electoral commission began releasing results, showing President Samia winning nearly 95% of votes in Mbea Province and leading in most other regions, including Zanzibar.
Opposition groups claim the election was “rigged from the start,” with their main candidate Tundu Lissu jailed on treason charges and another contender, Luhaga Mpina of the ACT-Wazalendo Party, disqualified over what they described as “politically motivated technicalities.”
International reactions have been swift. European Union lawmakers described the polls as a “fraud that had been unfolding for months,” citing widespread intimidation, suppression of dissent, and voter obstruction.
Tanzania’s military chief, Gen. Jacob Mkunda, blamed the violence on “bad characters who wish ill for the country,” insisting that the security forces were only responding to attacks on people and property.
Reports from Hobnob News correspondents indicate that gunfire and tear gas echoed through parts of Mwanza, while Dar es Salaam remained under heavy security, with major roads—including access routes to the international airport—sealed off.
The U.S. Embassy in Tanzania confirmed that several key roads leading to the airport were closed and advised foreign nationals to avoid protest zones.
Hospitals in Dar es Salaam, including Muhimbili National Hospital, were reportedly overwhelmed with injured civilians following clashes on Wednesday night.
In response to the escalating violence, the government has ordered civil servants to work from home until further notice and imposed a night-time curfew in major cities.
Amnesty International has expressed concern over reports of fatalities and condemned the government’s decision to restrict internet access nationwide, warning that blocking communication could heighten tensions.
Meanwhile, protesters have turned to a walkie-talkie app known as Zello to coordinate movements and share information as traditional online platforms remain disrupted.
President Samia, who took office in 2021 following the death of President John Magufuli, was initially lauded for liberalising the political climate. However, rights groups now accuse her administration of increasing authoritarianism, with critics facing arrests, harassment, and abductions.
With the ruling party poised to maintain its decades-long grip on power, the current unrest underscores growing frustration among Tanzanians who say democracy in the East African nation is under siege.
— Hobnob News
