As Tanzanians headed to the polls on October 29, 2025, what should have been a day of civic participation quickly spiraled into one of the most turbulent election days the country has seen in decades. Protests, military deployment, internet outages, and a citywide curfew in Dar es Salaam painted a stark picture of a nation grappling with deep political unrest and questions about the legitimacy of its electoral process.
According to the Associated Press, the trouble began as hundreds of protesters in the Kimara and Ubungo neighborhoods of Dar es Salaam took to the streets, setting a bus and a gas station ablaze. The unrest soon spread to other neighborhoods, including Magomeni, Kinondoni, and Tandale, with similar scenes reported in districts outside the capital of Dodoma, such as Arusha and Mbeya. Demonstrations even reached the border town of Tunduma, BBC News reported, underscoring the widespread nature of the discontent.
The government responded swiftly and forcefully. Inspector General of Police Camillus Wambura announced a 6 p.m. curfew in Dar es Salaam, urging residents to stay indoors. The military was deployed not only in the capital but also in Dodoma and the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar, including along streets housing major media organizations. "Security agencies are ready to deal with any disruptors of peace," regional commissioner Albert Chalamila told journalists, as cited by the Associated Press.
Amid the chaos, internet connectivity across Tanzania ground to a halt. NetBlocks, a global internet monitor, described the situation as a "nationwide digital blackout," corroborating widespread reports of restricted online access. This move, according to BBC News, further complicated efforts by citizens and journalists to share information about the unfolding events.
At the heart of the protests was frustration over the perceived lack of genuine political competition. President Samia Suluhu Hassan, seeking her first full term after completing the late John Magufuli’s tenure, was widely expected to win. The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party has dominated Tanzanian politics since independence in 1961, never losing an election. This year’s contest, however, was marred by the disqualification and imprisonment of key opposition figures.
The electoral commission, whose members are appointed by the president, barred Tundu Lissu, the leader of the main opposition party CHADEMA, from running. Lissu, who survived an assassination attempt in 2017 and returned to Tanzania with hopes of expanded political freedoms, was imprisoned on treason charges after calling for electoral reforms. He pleaded not guilty, maintaining that the charges were politically motivated. The second-largest opposition party’s candidate, Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo, was also disqualified on legal technicalities, BBC News confirmed. With the main opposition sidelined, sixteen candidates from smaller, historically marginal parties remained on the ballot.
Protesters voiced their anger over what they described as an uncompetitive and unfair process. "We are tired… We want an independent electoral commission so that every Tanzanian can choose the leader they want," one demonstrator told BBC News. Many cited the harassment and detention of opposition leaders as evidence that the election was little more than a formality. Some polling stations reported acts of vandalism, and early voting in Zanzibar was alleged by ACT-Wazalendo to have been marred by impersonation and the barring of party representatives, though the electoral commission insisted it had followed legal procedures.
Human rights organizations painted a grim picture of the pre-election environment. Amnesty International described a "wave of terror" involving enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and extrajudicial killings targeting critics and opposition members. A United Nations report in June echoed these concerns, labeling the situation as electoral "repression"—a charge the government has repeatedly denied, maintaining that the election was free and fair.
The violence on election day was not without consequence. Muhimbili Hospital in Dar es Salaam saw an influx of wounded patients, as reported by BBC News, though there were no immediate official reports of fatalities. Police fired into the air and used tear gas to disperse crowds, while the military’s presence was an unsettling reminder of the state’s determination to quell dissent. The unrest was described by The New York Times as the worst election-related violence in Tanzania since the country embraced multiparty democracy in the 1990s.
Despite the tension, more than 37 million Tanzanians were registered to vote—a 26% increase since 2020. Yet, a spot check across dozens of polling stations revealed a notably low turnout, especially among the country’s younger voters. Many cited safety concerns and a sense that the contest was already decided. James Matonya, a university student, told the Associated Press he didn’t vote because the election was a "one-horse race." This sentiment was echoed by analysts, who pointed to widespread voter apathy and the perception that President Hassan’s victory was inevitable.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, 65, stands as a historic figure—Tanzania’s first female president and one of the few women to have reached such heights in African politics. Hailing from Zanzibar, she has campaigned under the slogan "Work and Dignity," emphasizing her "four R’s": reconciliation, resilience, reforms, and rebuilding. Initially lauded for easing some of the political repression seen under her predecessor, critics now argue that the political space has narrowed once again, with a wave of arrests and abductions targeting government opponents.
The CCM’s enduring grip on power is rooted in Tanzania’s unique political trajectory. While many African countries saw multiparty democracy usher in political renewal, Tanzania’s transition in the 1990s only further entrenched the ruling party, which has now won six consecutive multiparty elections. The party’s roots stretch back to Julius Nyerere and the independence era, making it one of the continent’s longest-ruling movements.
Beyond politics, the country faces significant economic challenges. Agriculture remains the backbone of Tanzania’s economy, alongside gold mining and tourism, particularly in the savanna and Zanzibar. Yet, unemployment, especially among young people, and rising food and fuel prices have fueled public frustration. While these issues have sparked discontent, there is little evidence that they will disrupt the CCM’s hold on power—at least in the short term.
As the dust settles, the electoral commission is expected to release preliminary results within 24 hours of the vote, though final tallies could take up to seven days. For many Tanzanians, however, the outcome may already feel predetermined. The real question, as political scientist Richard Mbunda told The New York Times, is not just about legal legitimacy, but political legitimacy: "There is legal legitimacy provided by the Constitution and there is legislation to guide the conduct of the elections. But there are questions regarding political legitimacy."
While the streets of Dar es Salaam grow quiet under curfew and the country waits for official results, the echoes of protest and the shadow of repression linger—reminders of the high stakes and deep divisions shaping Tanzania’s political future.
