Tanzania's Troubled Path: A Look at the Recent Elections and Their Aftermath

A Ceremony Lacking Public Attendance

President Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in on Monday, but the ceremony lacked public attendance. Hassan claims she won with 98% of the vote on October 29. However, the country's largest opposition party, Chadema, was barred from participating. Its leader, Tundu Lissu, faces treason charges.

Criticism and Allegations of Illegitimacy

Deogratias Munishi, a spokesman for Chadema, criticized the elections, calling them illegitimate. He accused security forces of a violent crackdown and reported over 1,000 deaths, though these figures are hard to verify due to an internet shutdown. Videos from rights groups show corpses and wounded protesters. Tanzanian authorities deny excessive force and lack casualty figures.

Pre-Election Campaign and Repression

Before his arrest in April, Lissu campaigned against elections without reforms. Rights groups reported torture, disappearances, and killings leading up to the vote. Lissu's lawyer, Robert Amsterdam, stated that Lissu faces the death penalty if convicted. Amsterdam criticized the election's legitimacy and the international community's silence.

A Shift from Hope to Disappointment

When Hassan took office in 2021, many hoped for democratic progress. She lifted bans on rallies, repealed media restrictions, and freed a jailed opposition leader. Now, some believe she is worse than her authoritarian predecessor, John Magufuli. Her son is accused of overseeing the crackdown. Reports of the army siding with protesters remain unconfirmed.

Calls for Dialogue and Criticism of International Silence

Pope Leo called for an end to post-election violence, urging dialogue. Amsterdam criticized the African Union's lack of condemnation, calling it a "clubhouse for dictators." The AU congratulated Hassan, and African leaders attended her inauguration. Meanwhile, schools and public transport were disrupted by the internet blackout.

Opposition's Resilience and Regional Context

Munishi vowed that Chadema will persist, regardless of Lissu's fate. Tanzania joins other African nations with disputed elections this year. Cameroonian and Ivorian elections also saw elderly presidents win amid controversy.