Tanzania entered a tense and quiet Thursday morning as the government instructed civil servants and students to remain at home, following a highly contentious election day marked by protests, clashes, and a last-minute curfew in Dar es Salaam.
Wednesday’s general election sparked anger after President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s two main challengers were barred from contesting, fueling allegations of increasing political repression. Demonstrators flooded the streets in Dar es Salaam and other major cities, demanding transparency and calling out what opposition groups described as a betrayal of democracy.
In the commercial hub, protestors clashed with police, and a local government office was reportedly set ablaze. Internet disruptions added to the chaos, signaling heightened control during the unrest.
A late-night statement shared through the Instagram account of government spokesperson Gerson Msigwa directed all public employees to work from home unless physically required at their workplace. State television echoed a similar instruction for students to remain home and study remotely.
With the night-long curfew lifting at dawn, Dar es Salaam streets largely remained empty, with a visibly heavy security presence. Meanwhile, activists continued to coordinate through apps like Zello, discussing plans for further demonstrations and potential marches toward government offices.
The opposition party CHADEMA, disqualified from the elections months earlier after refusing to sign a code of conduct, had called for peaceful protests, condemning the election as a symbolic “coronation” rather than a democratic process. Its leader, Tundu Lissu, still faces treason charges.
President Hassan, Africa’s only sitting female head of state besides Ethiopia’s ceremonial president, was once praised for reversing the hardline governance style of her predecessor, John Magufuli. But human rights groups and activists now claim that abductions, suppression of dissent, and harassment of critics have resurfaced in recent years. Although President Hassan previously ordered investigations into these allegations, no public findings have been released.
