Tanzania’s internet enters its third day of a widespread blackout amid escalating election unrest, with the government shutdown creating an information vacuum as opposition leaders cry foul over contested results in Zanzibar.
The communications blockade, which began as voting concluded on Wednesday, has severely restricted information flow. With foreign journalists largely barred, verifying reports of protests and casualties remains a challenge.
Witnesses in Dar es Salaam’s Sinza district and the capital, Dodoma, reported persistent protests late into Thursday, with demonstrators burning tires and clashing with police. Reports of fatalities circulated but could not be independently confirmed, as multiple hospitals were unwilling to speak to the media.
Zanzibar Opposition Rejects Result, Alleges Rigging
Tensions are particularly high on the tourist archipelago of Zanzibar. The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party was declared the winner of the local vote, a result immediately rejected by the opposition ACT-Wazalendo party.
“They have robbed the people of Zanzibar of their voice… The only solution to deliver justice is through a fresh election,” the party stated.
A senior ACT-Wazalendo official, speaking anonymously, alleged widespread rigging, including ballot box stuffing, multiple voting, and the expulsion of their observers from counting rooms.
At a Zanzibar gathering, the mood was somber. “There has never been a credible election since 1995,” said a 70-year-old man. Those interviewed declined to give names, citing fear of reprisal.
Government Crackdown and Silenced Dissent
President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s government, which critics accuse of silencing dissent, sought to consolidate power in the polls. The main opposition challengers on the mainland were disqualified or are facing criminal charges.
The only official statement came from Army Chief Jacob Mkunda, who referred to protesters as “criminals.”
Analysts suggest President Hassan, who took office in 2021, has been working to cement her authority against factions within her own party loyal to her predecessor’s iron-fisted legacy.
In the lead-up to the vote, rights groups documented a “wave of terror,” including abductions of political figures. The primary mainland opposition party, Chadema, was banned from contesting, and its leader is on trial for treason.
