Protests Erupt in Tanzania Amid Disputed Election Results and Military Deployment
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (AP) — Hundreds of demonstrators faced off with police in Tanzania’s commercial capital on Friday, demanding that the national electoral body stop announcing election results that have sparked widespread protests. The escalating unrest has led to the deployment of the military and an internet shutdown across the country.
State television was broadcasting the mainland results of Wednesday’s vote, in which the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), sought to extend its time in power. The CCM has governed Tanzania since independence in 1961. However, presidential candidates from the two main opposition parties were barred from running, leaving incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan to compete against 16 other candidates from smaller parties who barely campaigned.
On the semi-autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar, the CCM retained the presidential seat, and the situation remained calm on Friday despite a heavy military presence. Ferry services, which had been suspended for the last two days, are expected to resume operations Friday. The electoral commission in Zanzibar announced on Thursday that incumbent President Hussein Mwinyi had won 78.8% of the votes. The opposition, however, accused the election of “massive fraud” and promised to reveal its next steps soon.
Protests continued on Friday in Dar es Salaam, marking the third consecutive day of demonstrations. The unrest began Wednesday afternoon when young people took to the streets to protest the harassment of opposition leaders and the limited choices in the presidential race. The protests quickly escalated, resulting in several vehicles, a gas station, and police stations being set ablaze.
The government has not released official statements on the extent of the damage or any casualties. Amnesty International reported that two people were killed during Wednesday’s protests. The demonstrations have since spread nationwide, prompting the government to postpone the reopening of colleges and universities originally scheduled for next Monday.
In response to the unrest, Army Chief Gen. Jacob John Mkunda condemned the violence and announced on Thursday that the military would work alongside other security agencies to contain the situation.
Meanwhile, Tanzanians living abroad have been actively engaging in daily discussions on X Spaces (formerly Twitter Spaces), analyzing the protests and exploring ways to provide financial support to the demonstrators.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/protests-over-tanzanias-electoral-results-071204999.html