Tanzania reels from election-day violence as lockdown extended, army urges calm and tourists left stranded

Nevin Al Sukari - Sana'a - President Samia Suluhu Hassan, whose government is accused of a campaign of repression, had sought to solidify her position and silence criticism within her party in the virtually uncontested polls, with the main challengers either jailed or barred from standing. — AFP

DAR ES SALAAM, Oct 31 — Tanzania extended a lockdown on Thursday, with soldiers and police on the main roads in the country’s biggest city, a day after elections turned into violent chaos with unconfirmed reports of many dead.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan, whose government is accused of a campaign of repression, had sought to solidify her position and silence criticism within her party in the virtually uncontested polls, with the main challengers either jailed or barred from standing.

But election day descended into chaos as hundreds took to the streets of Dar es Salaam, tearing down her posters and attacking police and polling stations, leading to an internet shutdown and curfew.

A diplomatic source told AFP they had unconfirmed reports of 30 or more people killed.

As the authorities sought to stamp out the unrest, army chief Jacob Mkunda took to state TV to call for order.

“Dear Tanzanians, you all remember that some people went to the streets on October 29 and committed criminal acts. These are criminals,” he said.

“The army has controlled the situation for now, and continues to follow up. I urge the criminals to immediately stop. If they continue, the defence force will take legal action.”

An AFP journalist said much of the economic hub Dar es Salaam was calm, but there was a visible security presence on the streets, with gunshots still frequently heard.

Tourists were stranded at airports and ports as flights were cancelled amid a communications blackout.

Schools will remain closed on Friday, and civil servants will work from home, a government spokesperson said.

It was unclear if a curfew declared on Wednesday would be extended.

An internet blackout was partially lifted Thursday afternoon, along with limits on international calls.

‘Unprecedented’

In the run-up to the vote, rights groups condemned a “wave of terror” in the east African nation, which has seen a string of high-profile abductions that escalated in the final days.

“It’s unprecedented... Where we go from here is unclear,” the diplomat said, with Hassan’s status “uncertain”.

On the semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar, a tourist magnet famed for white-sand beaches and azure waters, ferries to the mainland had been suspended, an AFP reporter said.

Tourists stranded at the airport, some sleeping on the floor among their luggage, said they had had no communication and were running low on cash as card transactions were not working.

“This is the scariest thing I’ve ever experienced,” a South African woman told AFP, describing how outside the airport there were “military guys, dressed in black, masked and carrying big guns”.

“I just want to get home,” she said.

Scores of tourists, including children and the elderly, were also stranded overnight at the airport near Mount Kilimanjaro, another popular tourist destination.

“There are roadblocks, gunfire, and riots in the streets,” a French man told AFP. “We can’t go to hotels because they’ve been evacuated... We risk running out of water and food at some point.”

Official results showed the regional election in Zanzibar was won by the ruling-party candidate, incumbent Hussein Mwinyi, with 74.8 per cent of the vote.

Final results of the national vote were expected in the coming days.

The national broadcaster announced early results of some constituencies with overwhelming victories for Hassan.

‘Atrocities’

Much of the anger online has been directed at Hassan’s son, Abdul Halim Hafidh Ameir, who has been in charge of an “informal task force” of police and intelligence services to manage election security, according to specialist publication Africa Intelligence.

The task force is blamed for a massive increase in abductions of government critics, including a popular social media influencer, Niffer, who was accused of promoting protests with jokey videos about selling facemasks.

Amnesty International researcher Roland Ebole said “atrocities” had been committed in the crackdown.

Hassan has faced opposition from parts of the army and allies of her iron-fisted predecessor, John Magufuli, since she took over upon his death in 2021, analysts say.

Initial hopes for reform faded as she oversaw mounting repression.

Her main challenger, Tundu Lissu, is on trial for treason, facing a potential death penalty and his party, Chadema, banned from running.

The only other serious candidate, Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo, was disqualified on technicalities. — AFP