Jocomms Correspondent reports that tension continues to grip Tanzania as protests over the country’s controversial election results enter their third day. Hundreds of demonstrators once again poured into the streets of Dar es Salaam on Friday, clashing with heavily armed police as calls grow for the national electoral body to halt the release of what protesters describe as “tainted results.” The unrest, which began shortly after Wednesday’s vote, has triggered an unprecedented military deployment across key cities and prompted a nationwide internet blackout that has left citizens struggling to access updates.
State broadcaster TBC continued airing results showing the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party—Tanzania’s political powerhouse since independence—maintaining a comfortable lead. However, many Tanzanians have voiced frustration after top opposition contenders were barred from the race, leaving President Samia Suluhu Hassan facing a fragmented field of lesser-known challengers. Meanwhile, Zanzibar’s Electoral Commission confirmed CCM’s Hussein Mwinyi as winner with 78.8 percent of the vote, a declaration that opposition leaders swiftly dismissed as “massively fraudulent,” vowing to announce their next move in the coming days.
Scenes of unrest persisted into Friday, with burning barricades and plumes of smoke seen across major intersections in Dar es Salaam. Several vehicles, police stations, and a gas depot were reportedly set ablaze as security forces used tear gas to disperse crowds. Amnesty International confirmed two fatalities linked to the violence, while authorities remain silent on casualties or property loss. As the government delays the reopening of universities and colleges, questions are mounting: Can Tanzania’s leadership restore calm and public trust before the situation spirals further out of control? Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.
