By Joseph Mauso
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (IP)
Tanzania’s electoral commission is expected to declare President Samia Suluhu Hassan the winner of the country’s tense general election at any moment, even as violence and unrest grip several regions.
The announcement comes amid reports of deadly clashes between protesters and security forces following the disputed vote.
At least ten people are feared dead, according to human rights monitors, though the exact number remains unclear.
Security forces have been deployed in major towns, including Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Mwanza, where demonstrators have defied curfews to demand transparency in the tallying process.
Internet access has been restricted, and civil servants and students have been ordered to remain at home until further notice.
Government officials insist the situation is under control and have labeled the unrest as “isolated incidents,” but eyewitnesses report ongoing confrontations and mass arrests.
Opposition groups accuse the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party of manipulating the process to ensure President Suluhu’s victory, describing the poll as “neither free nor fair.”
Meanwhile, international observers have expressed concern over reports of intimidation, media restrictions, and the exclusion of major opposition candidates from the race.
As the electoral body prepares to make its final declaration, Tanzania stands at a crossroads — balancing between official calm and growing public outrage that threatens to spill over into a wider national crisis.
