Tanzania Election: Samia Suluhu Hassan Wins by 97% Amid Protests, Opposition Crackdown
Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has secured a landslide victory in the country’s disputed general election, with official figures showing she won over 97% of the votes. PulseNets learnt that her two major challengers were disqualified ahead of the polls, effectively leaving her without a formidable opponent.
Hassan, who first assumed office in 2021 following the death of her predecessor, John Pombe Magufuli, appeared at a ceremony in Dodoma, where she received her certificate of return from the National Electoral Commission.
In her post-election remarks, President Hassan expressed gratitude to Tanzanians for their overwhelming support, emphasizing that it was historic for the nation to rally behind a female leader.
“Now that the election is over, it is time to unite as a people and protect what we have built for more than sixty years,” she said, adding that,
“My administration will work with all security agencies to maintain peace and stability across Tanzania.”
PulseNets obtained reports suggesting that the election result has intensified criticism from opposition figures, rights activists, and international observers, many of whom describe the process as a coronation rather than a contest.
Opposition leader Tundu Lissu of the Chadema Party remains behind bars on treason charges, after calling for electoral reforms ahead of the polls. Another opposition figure, Luhaga Mpina of the ACT-Wazalendo party, was barred from contesting.
In a statement issued late Saturday, Chadema rejected the announced results, claiming that no genuine election had taken place.
“These results have no basis in truth. What happened was not an election but a seizure of power,” the statement read.
PulseNets reported that the October 29 election was marred by widespread unrest, with protesters taking to the streets in major cities to challenge the outcome and disrupt the vote-counting process. Military personnel were deployed to reinforce police efforts in dispersing demonstrators, while internet connectivity across the country was disrupted intermittently, affecting communication and travel.
As unrest spread nationwide, the government suspended the reopening of universities, initially scheduled for November 3, citing security concerns.
On Saturday, Dar es Salaam, the nation’s commercial hub, remained tense but calm. Security checkpoints were active, with officers demanding identification from motorists and pedestrians.
Although the Tanzanian authorities have not disclosed the number of casualties, Seif Magango, spokesperson for the U.N. Human Rights Office, told PulseNets via a virtual briefing from Kenya that credible reports confirmed at least ten deaths in Dar es Salaam, Shinyanga, and Morogoro.
The U.N. Secretary-General, António Guterres, also raised concerns over the deteriorating situation, urging all parties to “avoid further escalation and ensure the protection of human rights.”
Similarly, the foreign ministers of the U.K., Canada, and Norway, in a joint statement, cited “credible evidence of significant casualties” linked to the government’s handling of the protests.
Analysts told PulseNets that at stake for the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party was not just another election but the continuation of its six-decade dominance in Tanzanian politics. Despite the victory, observers note that such overwhelming margins are uncommon in the region — with only Rwanda’s Paul Kagame regularly achieving similar results.
Rights watchdogs, including Amnesty International, had earlier warned of enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, and extrajudicial killings in the months leading up to the election. In June, a U.N. human rights panel documented over 200 cases of disappearances since 2019, expressing alarm over a “pattern of repression.”
The International Crisis Group in its recent assessment stated that Hassan’s government oversaw “an unprecedented crackdown on political dissent,” highlighting internet restrictions, bans on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), and the intimidation of journalists and civic activists.
Political analysts who spoke to PulseNets noted that Tanzania’s governance model remains deeply rooted in single-party dominance, with the CCM functioning as both a political party and a state institution.
Critics argue that while past leaders maintained control through soft authoritarianism, Hassan’s leadership style has become more confrontational, sidelining youth-driven democratic aspirations that have gained traction across East Africa.
Also Read: Tanzania Election 2025: Abductions, Crackdowns, and Fears Mount as First Female President Samia Suluhu Seeks Re-Election
The CCM, which retains historical ties to the Communist Party of China, has ruled since Tanzania’s independence from Britain in 1961. Its institutional structure, fused with the state apparatus, ensures that leadership transitions remain controlled and orderly, a feature that has helped maintain the country’s image of stability despite growing discontent.
Political observers told PulseNets that while the CCM’s dominance has long ensured peace and predictability, Hassan’s sweeping victory may deepen concerns over the country’s democratic trajectory and its future relationship with the international community.
