On election day by mid-morning, protests erupted across the country, starting in major cities
as Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Arusha, and Mbeya before spreading to other regions like Kahama,
Songwe, Tunduma and Musoma. Many polling stations were destroyed or forced to close, and
voting became impossible in several regions. Citizens took to the streets demanding fair
elections, while police task forces responded with overwhelming force.
For seven days, the country descended into violence. As citizens demanded fairness,
frustration turned into visible acts of defiance. Protesters reportedly burned public offices and
the properties of officials accused of corruption, an expression of public anger against
perceived systemic impunity. The protest was met with overwhelming force from police and
military units, including live ammunition, tear gas, and curfews. Eyewitnesses reported
shootings, abductions, and indiscriminate attacks on civilians, including elderly women and
children. Despite this, the ruling party CCM, with the support of the National Electoral
Commission, declared Samia Suluhu Hassan the winner, receiving more than 97% of the vote,
even in areas where no voƟng took place.
