By Robai Ludeny
Kenyan President William Ruto extended congratulations to his Tanzanian counterpart, Samia Suluhu Hassan, after the National Electoral Commission of Tanzania declared her the winner of the contentious October 29 presidential election. He emphasized that Kenya and Tanzania share a Joint vision of enjoying peaceful, prosperous, and integrated East Africa through their membership in the East African Community, and urged Tanzanians to uphold peace amid political unrest.
Ruto’s message came at a fraught moment: the election was marked by protests, a sweep of arrests, and accusations of unfairness. The official result awarded Samia Suluhu nearly 98 per cent of the vote, a landslide that raised concerns. Yet many Tanzanians and their opposition do not accept this as a genuine win.
The main opposition party, the Chama Cha Mapinduzi-led administration, barred key contenders from standing. Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) protested their exclusion and claimed the vote was a farce, stating the results were completely fabricated and amounted to no real election. In many quarters, the celebrations by the ruling side ring hollow: how can a sweeping victory amid such turbulence are seen as legitimate?
As the results were announced, parts of the country erupted in unrest. Protesters in cities such as Dar es Salaam took to the streets, demanding electoral reforms, calling out the near absence of competition, and condemning what they perceived as a coronation rather than a contest. Chadema said the death toll from the aftermath could be as high as 700, with around 350 deaths in Dar es Salaam and more than 200 in Mwanza. Meanwhile, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said credible sources had confirmed at least 10 deaths and called for restraint and an investigation.
Given the widespread withdrawal of opposition, the curfew in Dar es Salaam, internet shutdowns, and reports of heavy-handed policing, many Tanzanians view the election and thus Samia Suluhu’s declared win as ironic. To some, it is less a triumph of democracy than a reinforcement of the status quo. Ruto’s message of peaceful integration is well-intentioned, but for many inside Tanzania, it rings somewhat disconnected from the raw reality on the ground.
So, is it a fair win? From the official standpoint, yes. But from the perspective of Tanzanians who believe their voices were suppressed and their choices limited, the answer is a clear no. And yes, it is deeply ironic that a celebration of unity and democracy unfolds while significant segments of the population feel excluded and aggrieved.
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The author is Robai Ludenyi. Journalist and Media Innovator