Violence has continued in Tanzania, as police fired tear gas and gunshots on Friday to disperse protesters who returned to the streets for. a second day after a general elections marked by violent demonstrations, witnesses said.
The unrest erupted in Dar es Salaam, the country’s commercial capital, and other cities following the exclusion of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s two main challengers from the presidential race. Demonstrators have cited increasing government repression as a driving factor behind the protests.
In Dar es Salaam and Arusha, shops were totally closed, according to social media posts. Police were also reported to have closed the Singida-Arusha road.
Authorities imposed an overnight curfew in Dar es Salaam, a city of more than seven million people, after government offices and other buildings were set ablaze. Internet access, which was disrupted during the election, appeared to be returning intermittently.
Tito Magoti, a Tanzanian human rights activist, reported at least five deaths during Wednesday’s protests, with two occurring in Namanga Township on Thursday. A diplomatic source suggested the toll could be as high as ten in Dar es Salaam, though Rwanda Dispatch could not independently verify these figures.
The state-run Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation began announcing provisional election results, indicating Hassan won commanding majorities in several constituencies.
On Thursday, dozens of protesters returned to the streets when the independent Tanzania National Electoral Commission (INEC) began streaming election results in spite of an internet blockade and street protests. Only four regions are reported to have successfully submitted their results so far.
Preliminary results were said to be released within 24 hours. INEC has up to seven days to declare the final outcome, which cannot be challenged in a court of law.
Vote counting was still ongoing in different parts of the country after some regions also plunged into a blackout for several hours. This follows events on Wednesday, election day, when protesters.
