Kwa Jirani: How Tanzania’s Election Day Spiraled into President Samia Suluhu’s Worst Political Crisis
Hashtags in support of the protests trended across social media platforms before the Tanzanian government suddenly switched off internet access.
Though the immediate future remains uncertain, one thing is clear: Tanzanians have woken up.Photo/courtesy
By Ruth Sang
A polling day that was supposed to be marked by calm and order in Tanzania suddenly turned into one of the most turbulent, chaotic episodes the nation had experienced in modern times. What began as a typical exercise of democratic duty soon degenerated into unrest, flames, and open defiance, turning Election Day into a scene of rebellion and fury across several cities.
While some citizens patiently lined up at the various polling stations to cast their votes, thousands flooded the streets, venting deep-seated frustrations toward President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration. For many Tanzanians, the elections symbolized not democracy but the culmination of years of political repression, economic hardship, and growing resentment toward a government accused of silencing dissent.
From the busy streets of Dar es Salaam to the more rural parts of Kigoma and Arusha, demonstrations spilled onto highways, burned campaign billboards, and brought towns to a complete standstill. The polling centers were overrun, government buildings vandalized, and pro-regime establishments targeted in spontaneous acts of defiance. Caught off guard by the scale and intensity, police forces struggled to contain this wave of anger sweeping through the nation.
For the first time in decades, Tanzanians seemed to unite for a common cause-to express their dissatisfaction with what many citizens viewed as an oppressive regime. As the violence and mayhem mounted, Kenyans and other East Africans closely followed the events and shared information, saluting the bravery of their neighbors online. Hashtags in support of the protests trended across social media platforms before the Tanzanian government suddenly switched off internet access in a desperate attempt to contain the narrative.
By late evening, President Suluhu had imposed a nationwide curfew in hopes of calming things down. The reports of deaths kept coming in. Human rights activist Tito Magoti confirmed at least five deaths in Tanzania, while diplomatic sources put the number in Dar es Salaam alone as being possibly as high as double that. As authorities cut communications, protesters used Zello – an app that works like a walkie-talkie – to remain connected and plan further action.
The cries of “Bongo kama Nepal!” resonated across the city of Dar es Salaam, reflecting the determination of a new generation to take back their country. Regional personalities such as Kenyan MP Caleb Hamisi and former Governor Kivutha Kibwana hailed Tanzanians as fearless, with many calling for genuine political reforms.
Exiled activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai would later describe the events as “historic” while noting the irony that they took place on October 29 — the anniversary of the union that formed Tanzania and the birthday of the late John Magufuli. Though the immediate future remains uncertain, one thing is clear: Tanzanians have woken up. October 29 will go down as not only a protest of a widely disputed election but as a moment in history that defined the nation’s struggle for freedom, dignity, and actual democracy.
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