By HAN News Desk
DAR ES SALAAM — Political tensions are rising sharply in Tanzania following a disputed national election, as opposition leaders accuse security forces of carrying out mass killings and violent crackdowns on protesters.
The opposition says dozens of people have been killed and many more injured or detained during clashes with security forces in the aftermath of the vote. Most of the reported violence has occurred in Zanzibar and opposition strongholds on the mainland.
Opposition parties allege that the elections were marred by fraud and intimidation, claiming that state institutions were used to suppress dissent and manipulate results in favour of the ruling party. Eyewitnesses and local rights groups have reported that security forces used live ammunition, tear gas, and mass arrests to disperse demonstrators.
“What we are witnessing is an attack on democracy,” one opposition spokesperson said, calling for an independent international investigation into what they described as “state-orchestrated killings.”
The government has not yet issued a formal response to the allegations, though officials previously said the vote was conducted peacefully and in accordance with Tanzanian law.
Regional and international observers have urged calm and restraint, warning that continued violence could threaten Tanzania’s long-standing reputation for political stability in East Africa. Both the African Union and the United Nations have called for dialogue between the government and opposition to resolve the post-election crisis peacefully.
