Protests have erupted across parts of Tanzania on election day, with angry youth taking to the streets to express frustration over what they call an unfair and one-sided vote.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, 65, is determined to cement her position with an emphatic victory that will silence critics within her own party, analysts say. (Photo by MARCO LONGARI / AFP)
In Dar es Salaam, demonstrators were seen blocking roads and dismantling polling tents. A video shared online shows young men carrying away chairs from a polling station while shouting, “Hiki ni kituo cha kupigia kura. Hamna kupigia kura hapa,” meaning “This is a polling station, there’s no voting here.”
Police have responded by firing teargas to disperse crowds, while tanks and heavily armed officers have been stationed around key areas in the commercial capital. Authorities had earlier warned that demonstrations would not be tolerated.
The protests come as voter turnout remains low, with several polling stations especially in Dar es Salaam, remaining almost empty hours after opening. Many residents said they stayed away out of fear of possible violence or arrests.
Observers and critics say the low participation reflects widespread frustration among voters, following the jailing and disqualification of key opposition leaders ahead of the polls.
International observers from the African Union, SADC, and the East African Community are monitoring the elections, which take place amid growing concern over Tanzania’s shrinking political space.
