ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Tanzania’s President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has secured victory in the election, according to official results released on Saturday this comes after major contenders were detained or prevented from participating in a vote that has resulted in several days of violent demonstrations.
According to the electoral commission, Hassan secured 97.66 per cent of the total votes and took the lead in all constituencies, as announced on state television.
State TV also reported that a swift swearing-in ceremony would be held on Saturday.
The main opposition party, Chadema, claims that hundreds of citizens have been killed by security operatives since demonstrations erupted on Wednesday, the day of the election.
Hassan rose to the presidency in 2021 following the sudden passing of former President John Magufuli.
Analysts note that she has encountered resistance from sections of the military as well as Magufuli’s loyalists, and that this overwhelming victory was intended to further reinforce her authority.
Rights organisations accuse her of presiding over a “wave of terror” in the country ahead of the polls, including multiple high-profile abductions which reportedly intensified in the final days before voting.
Chadema was prohibited from contesting in the election and its leader has faced a treason trial.
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Despite heavy deployment of security personnel, election day devolved into disorder as citizens stormed the streets, pulled down Hassan’s posters, and clashed with police and polling units, leading to a shutdown of internet access and the enforcement of a national curfew.
A Chadema spokesperson informed AFP on Friday that “around 700” people had been killed, citing data compiled from monitoring teams stationed in hospitals and clinics.
Both a security insider and a diplomat in Dar es Salaam told AFP that deaths were “in the hundreds”.
Hassan has not addressed the nation publicly since the crisis started.
Authorities deny using “excessive force”, but have cut off internet connectivity and introduced strict lockdown restrictions and curfews across the country, severely limiting access to information.
News outlets have not updated since early Wednesday and journalists are operating under serious constraints.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is deeply concerned about the situation in Tanzania, “including reports of deaths and injuries during the demonstrations”, his spokesperson said.
Much of the public frustration has shifted toward Hassan’s son, Abdul Halim Hafidh Ameir, who is accused of directing the clampdown.
Although there are unverified claims that segments of the army have sided with demonstrators, Army Chief Jacob Mkunda publicly defended Hassan on Thursday, describing the demonstrators as criminals.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo said on Friday that his government had no figures regarding fatalities.
“Currently, no excessive force has been used,” he said during an interview with Al Jazeera. “There’s no number until now of any protesters killed.”
AFP