Tanzanian citizens cautiously began venturing out on Tuesday as government restrictions were eased nationwide. The partial lifting of a curfew and an internet blackout follows widespread election violence. Opposition groups claim this violence resulted in hundreds of deaths.
The nation’s electoral commission reported that President Samia Suluhu Hassan secured a win in the October 29 poll with an overwhelming 98 percent of the vote. Conversely, opposition parties have emphatically labeled the election outcome a “sham.”
Normalcy Returns Slowly Amidst Public Anxiety
The near-total internet blackout, which was enforced when protests began on election day, has now been partially relaxed. Nevertheless, obtaining reliable, verifiable information from the East African country remains challenging.
In Dar es Salaam, the economic capital, a slow return to regular daily activity was observed on Tuesday. Many citizens, however, expressed persistent anxiety.
“I hope violence will not come again,” shared Rehema Shehoza, a 32-year-old food vendor. “Some of us would die from hunger because I need to get out for work to get my daily bread.”
Police officials announced the termination of the curfew initially imposed on election day. Following a near-complete shutdown of transport, some public bus services have since resumed operating.
Traffic Queues and Security Presence
Long queues were observed outside gasoline stations as they reopened. Consequently, fuel prices immediately experienced a sharp increase. Private auto-rickshaws and motorbikes are filling the gap left by reduced public transportation.
A visible security force remained present in the country’s largest city, though the overall deployment was lighter than in recent days. Internet service was noted to be intermittent. Graphic images, purportedly showing the recent protests, were being shared across social media, but their authenticity could not be independently confirmed.
Fatalities and Alleged Covert Operations
A diplomatic source indicated that credible information suggests a high death toll. Reports indicate hundreds and possibly thousands of fatalities may have been documented at hospitals and health clinics across Tanzania.
The opposition party, Chadema, claimed to have recorded “no less than 800” deaths by Saturday, though external organizations could not independently confirm these figures.
President Hassan acknowledged the violence during her acceptance speech. She expressed sadness over “incidents of violence that have led to loss of lives” but did not disclose any official casualty figures. She did promise that security and defense forces would launch an investigation.
The diplomatic source noted “concerning reports” regarding police conduct during the blackout. These reports suggest that security forces exploited the internet downtime.
They allegedly used the period to hunt down opposition members and protesters who might possess video evidence of atrocities committed the previous week. A Dar es Salaam resident reported that her neighbor, who had not joined the protests, was fatally shot by a plainclothes man outside his home on October 30.
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