Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan became the first woman to win a presidential election outright after winning this week’s election in a landslide. She received almost 98% of the votes. The election was held on a Wednesday, but the exact date is still unknown. The National Electoral Commission subsequently announced Hassan as the undisputed victor. In an era of low turnout, she garnered more than 31.9 million votes, which is about 97.66% of the overall ballots. This election mobilized an incredible turnout; around 87% of the nation’s 37.6 million registered voters came to those polls.
Even in light of this electoral victory, the mood surrounding this election was characterized by violence and civil unrest. Protests quickly followed as citizens took to the streets to show their outrage during the runoff election period. Some demonstrators even attempted to storm the palace of President Hassan, while others burned government offices and removed the president’s banners. To suppress the countermobilization, Tanzanian authorities responded to the unrest with a nationwide curfew over three nights. They were just forbidding access to the internet.
Election Results and Turnout
What President Hassan’s victory represents is a momentous shift in Tanzanian politics that should not be lost on any observer. The electoral commission’s announcement confirmed that she received overwhelming support from the electorate, which is reflective of her administration’s policies and governance since taking office.
President Hassan’s total was jaw-dropping – 31.9 million votes. This shows what a special level of support she has from the grassroots. The high voter turnout of around 87% underscores the citizens’ engagement in the democratic process, despite the challenges faced during the election.
The lack of real opposition candidates made this election’s context all the more dramatic. By doing so, the electoral commission effectively kicked Hassan’s two main challengers out of the race. This troubling decision has had a chilling effect on the fairness and competitiveness of our electoral process.
Violence and Protests
The election period witnessed significant unrest. Protests spread throughout the country, as everyday citizens took to the streets to voice their frustrations with the recent government administration. Reports indicate that police responded forcefully, deploying tear gas and gunfire to disperse crowds.
The main opposition party claimed that hundreds were killed during these protests, while the United Nations human rights office confirmed at least ten fatalities across three cities. Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo characterized the violence as “very few small pockets of incidents.” His goal was to make the situation seem less serious than it was.
“very few small pockets of incidents” – Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo
The electoral tensions have raised alarming questions with respect to democracy in Tanzania. As the smoke clears, observers are beginning to wonder what this violence means for future political stability.
Government Response
In response to such unrest, Tanzanian authorities decided on heavy-handed responses to maintain control. Issuing a nationwide three-night curfew was a necessary step to reduce the potential for additional violence and ensure the safety of Americans. The ban on internet access has raised discussions on the issues of transparency and freedom of information in Tanzania.
Critics have expressed concerns regarding how these measures might affect citizens’ rights and their ability to communicate freely during a critical time for national governance.
