Tanzania’s internet services have been restored after a shutdown during the election demonstrations. Many people have taken to social media to share information about those who were fatally shot during the protests, with several people having been buried.

Graphic images and videos of brutally murdered individuals have also been shared online. The majority of those killed were youths, specifically from the Gen Z demographic.

The opposition and civil society have put the death toll at hundreds, while authorities have yet to release an official figure. According to reports, the protests were sparked by the exclusion of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s two main challengers from the race and allegations of vote rigging and irregularities. The government responded to the protests with force, deploying military and police units to restore order. A nationwide curfew was enforced, and internet access was severely disrupted.

The European Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have declared Tanzania’s election neither free nor fair. Leaders have called for calm and respect for human dignity. The opposition party, CHADEMA, claims that around 700 people were killed in the protests, with 350 in Dar es Salaam and over 200 in Mwanza. However, the government has dismissed these claims as “hugely exaggerated”.

The international community has expressed concern over the situation, with the United Nations calling for restraint and an investigation into the excessive use of force against protesters. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has also condemned the use of lethal force and other abuses. As the situation continues to unfold, many are calling for calm and restraint, while others demand justice and accountability for the lives lost.