Can Tanzania's opposition challenge Samia Suluhu Hassan's 97% victory? | DW News

Key Concepts

• Election Winner Certificate: Official document acknowledging an election victory.
• Electoral Reforms: Changes to election laws and processes to ensure fairness and transparency.
• Exclusion of Challengers: Opposition candidates being barred from participating in elections.
• Fraudulent Election Results: Election outcomes declared as illegitimate due to irregularities or lack of genuine participation.
• Legal Framework for Elections: The existing laws governing how election results can be challenged.
• Power of the People: The concept of popular will and public action as a means of challenging illegitimate authority.
• Violent Suppression of Protests: The use of excessive force by security forces to quell demonstrations.
• Crimes Against Humanity: Severe violations of human rights, potentially including widespread killings and torture.
• Abductions and Detentions: Unlawful seizure and imprisonment of individuals, often political opponents.

Official Election Victory and Opposition's Rejection

Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan has officially received an election winner certificate from the country's electoral authorities, signifying an official acknowledgement of her victory. The ceremony took place in the administrative capital, Dodoma, where President Hassan stated it was time to unite the country. The electoral commission reported that she secured approximately 97% of the vote.

However, this victory has been met with significant controversy. The elections were reportedly marred by deadly violence, with demonstrators taking to the streets to protest the exclusion of Hassan's main challengers. The opposition claims that hundreds of people were killed by police during these unrests, a charge the government denies, stating that excessive force was not used.

Opposition's Stance and Allegations of Fraud

Dio's Munishi, speaking on behalf of Tanzania's main opposition party, Chadema, which was barred from the election, expressed a clear rejection of the declared results. He stated that without electoral reforms demanded by Tanzanians and with citizens protesting in the streets instead of voting on October 29th, there was "no election." Consequently, Munishi declared the announced results to be "a total fraud," asserting that the declared winner was not genuinely chosen by Tanzanians as they did not vote for her.

Inability to Challenge Election Results Legally

When questioned about challenging the results, Munishi explained that Tanzania's current legal framework for elections does not permit challenging results declared by the electoral commission. This limitation is a key reason why Chadema was advocating for broader electoral reforms, specifically to enable election results to be challenged in court. As it stands, the only avenue for challenging these results, according to Munishi, is "the power of the people," which he indicated is already manifesting in street protests.

Violent Suppression of Protests and Atrocities

Munishi provided a grim account of the protests, confirming that "heavy force has been used by security forces, especially the police force of Tanzania, to crash the process." He reported hundreds of casualties with life-threatening injuries and stated that gathered reports indicate many deaths. Munishi described these events as "atrocities" and potentially "crimes against humanity." While internet access was limited, preventing exact figures, initial estimates from local leaders on the ground suggested figures "above 850" deaths as of the interview date.

Safety Concerns and Political Persecution

Regarding personal safety and the safety of colleagues still in Tanzania, Munishi stated, "No one is safer in Tanzania. Everyone is in hiding." He detailed a wave of abductions carried out by security agents against Chadema members and leaders prior to October 29th, as well as widespread arrests. He confirmed that the party leader and the vice-chairman are still in detention for unspecified offenses. This situation underscores a pervasive climate of fear and insecurity for opposition figures in the country.