Tanzania Eases Curfew After 98% Win

Some Tanzanian citizens ventured out on Tuesday as restrictions were partially lifted across the nation. The easing of a curfew and an internet blackout follows election violence that the opposition claims resulted in hundreds of fatalities.

The country’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. In contrast, opposition groups have definitively branded the election outcome a “sham.”

Slow Return to Normalcy Amid Fear

The near-total internet blackout, enforced since widespread protests erupted on election day, has been partially eased. Nevertheless, obtaining verifiable information from the East African country remains difficult.

In the economic capital, Dar es Salaam, a slow return to normal daily life was observed on Tuesday. Many people, however, remained fearful.

“I hope violence will not come again,” said 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 lifting of the curfew imposed on election day. After a near-complete transport shutdown, some public bus services have resumed operations.

Fuel Lines and Security Presence

Long lines were observed outside gasoline stations that were reopening, and prices immediately soared. Private motorbikes and auto-rickshaws were helping to fill the gap in public transportation.

There was a visible security presence in the country’s largest city, although the deployment appeared to be lighter than in recent days. Internet service was observed to be intermittent.

Graphic images, reportedly depicting the recent protests, were being shared across social media. However, none of the circulating images could be independently verified.

Fatalities and Allegations of State Action

A diplomatic source indicated that credible reports suggest hundreds perhaps even thousands of deaths may have been registered at hospitals and health clinics throughout Tanzania.

The opposition party, Chadema, claimed to have recorded “no less than 800” deaths by Saturday. However, none of these figures have been independently verified by external organizations.

President Hassan, during her acceptance speech, acknowledged the violence. She expressed sadness over “incidents of violence that have led to loss of lives,” but she did not provide any official casualty details. She promised that security and defense forces would initiate an investigation.

The diplomatic source noted “concerning reports” regarding police activity. These reports suggest that the security forces exploited the internet blackout.

They allegedly used the downtime to hunt down opposition members and protesters who might possess videos of atrocities committed during the previous week.

A resident of Dar es Salaam told a human rights organization that her neighbor, who had not participated in the protests, was shot dead by a plainclothes man outside his home on October 30.

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