Suluhu awaits victory as Tanzania is rocked by violent protests

Violence erupted in some parts of Tanzania on Wednesday as angry youth engaged anti-riot police in running battles to protest against President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s repression of the opposition.

Several people were reportedly injured in the confrontation after groups of protesters gathered along major highways to demand electoral reforms and free political activity.

Protesters lit fires on roads, vandalised buses, and caused extensive damage to bus terminals and other public infrastructure.

As voting for the presidential elections was happening, hundreds of youth jammed Kinara Kibo area in Dar es Salaam and blocked Morogoro Road using rocks and burning tyres before truckloads of gun-toting police officers arrived to disperse them.

Protests also erupted in towns neighbouring Kenya, among them at the Namanga border post, where smoke billowed from burning tyres. Drama unfolded as Tanzanian police blocked Kenyans who wanted to cross the border to help in the protests.

The burning of tyres and blocking of roads, which is common in Kenya, is a new trend in Tanzania. Those taking part are mostly young people, similar to the Gen Z protests witnessed in Kenya and Madagascar in the recent past.

Journalists based in Dar es Salaam reported that irate youth first gathered near the Church of Resurrection and Life, which was recently closed by the government.

The church is associated with Bishop Josephat Gwajima, a former area CCM MP, who recently gained prominence for condemning abductions, disappearances, and human rights abuses.

“Smoke from gunfire and canisters has filled the area as the young protestors continue battling police. The area around Morogoro Road is tense. Residents are fleeing to the side streets and into shops,” said a BBC reporter wearing a bullet jacket and helmet while reporting live from Dar es Salaam.

The BBC later reported that police in Dar es Salaam fired tear gas to disperse opposition supporters protesting against the general election that is expected to be a shoo-in for President Samia Suluhu and her ruling party, as the main opposition leader is in jail on treason charges, which he denies, and his party has boycotted the vote.

"We are tired… We want an independent electoral commission so that every Tanzanian can choose the leader they want," a protester told the BBC.

Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Alfred Chalamila warned that the government would take strong action against those disrupting peace in the city.

Internet watchdog NetBlocks reported a "nationwide disruption to internet connectivity" in a statement on X.

President Samia voted at Chamwino polling station in the capital city Dodoma, where a very low turnout of voters was observed. She arrived at around 11 a.m., queued on a short line of about 10 people, and cast her ballots.

“Ndugu waandishi, habari zenu. Nilikua nafuatilia habari za uchaguzi kutoka asubuhi kwa sababu wanahabari wako kote nchini. Sasa nimeona ni wakati mwafaka kufika hapa ili hata na mimi nifanye haki yangu ya kidemokrasia (I was watching your coverage countrywide since morning. I’m now here to exercise my democratic right),” she told reporters after emerging from the hall.

Key opposition party leaders Tundu Lissu (Chadema) and Luhaga Mpina (ACT Wazalendo) have either been banned or disqualified from participating in the elections, giving the president a free re-election run.

At one of the polling stations in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) captured Costa Kibunde, the Makini party presidential candidate, walking alone into a polling station with no other voter in sight.

The General Election was marked by low turnout because of what political pundits described as cynicism about the process and lack of competition for the President.

It was also reported that major transport operators across Tanzania cancelled all trips between October 28 and 30, 2025, marking the first time in the country’s history that bus services have been halted due to elections.

Dozens of bus companies, including Louis Line, Extra Luxury Coach, Chakaby Luxury, Ally’s Star, Tilisho Safaris, Happy Nation, Sama Luxury, City Boy Express, Isamilo Express, and Linah Luxury, suspended their services.

Others included Mbeya Luxury, HC Safari, Greenline Express, King Yasin Tours, and Falcon Coach, which all posted public notices announcing the suspension of operations.

Ferry services have also been affected, with Azam Marine suspending all trips from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar and other coastal destinations on October 29, with services expected to resume today.

While most operators did not publicly state reasons for grounding their fleets, news outlets reported that some cited the need to pave the way for the elections.

“Industry observers believe the unprecedented move either reflects fears within the business community about potential chaos surrounding the elections or is a strategic attempt to limit the movement of people intending to vote,” wrote one news website.

The cancellations came as authorities maintained that the elections would proceed as planned despite online protests and calls for electoral reforms by opposition leaders.

Earlier reports also indicated that the social media platform X was blocked even before the election campaign began, and recently, live discussions on TikTok were restricted. Both platforms are predominantly used by young people and members of the diaspora community.

This week, police issued a series of warnings against participating in the demonstrations. Yesterday, all polling stations were manned by heavily armed officers, while others patrolled all streets of major cities.

Apart from the opposition, some leaders in the ruling CCM party have also raised concerns about the nomination process of the presidential candidate.

Former President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete was forced to intervene after some CCM members complained a few months ago that there was no transparency in the party.

“I hear some people claiming that procedures were violated and I was blamed for my remarks at the national congress. But I say, those who were saying that either do not understand the procedure of our party, or if they do, perhaps they have forgotten, or they are pretending to be ignorant,” Kikwete said while launching Samia’s presidential bid.

He explained that since the current multiparty system began in 1995, CCM set a precedent where sitting presidents who complete first terms and seek re-election are given the opportunity unopposed.

“That’s how it was during Mkapa, Kikwete, and Magufuli’s terms. Why should it be different this time for Samia?” Kikwete asked, while also pointing out that those disgruntled now were present during the eras of Mkapa, Kikwete, and Magufuli and never raised objection.

Pundits also claim that opposition candidates taking part in the election appear to have been compromised because they are mostly supporting Samia.

A former MP for the opposition party ACT-Wazalendo, nicknamed Bwege, recently raised controversy when he alleged that presidential candidates opposing Samia were given cars as an inducement.

He said all the 19 presidential candidates have been given brand-new SUVs, something that never happened before, and the cars are apparently theirs to keep after the election.