….Opposition, civil society, and international observers question the credibility of the October 29 polls as reports of violence, internet shutdowns, and irregularities dominate the aftermath.

DODOMA-(MaraviPost)-Tanzania’s National Electoral Commission has declared President Samia Suluhu Hassan the winner of the country’s highly contested October 29 election, securing an overwhelming 98 percent of the vote.

The announcement, made late Friday evening, has been met with both celebration among ruling party supporters and outrage from opposition figures who have labelled the election a “sham” marred by manipulation and intimidation.

The opposition and civil society organizations have rejected the results, alleging widespread irregularities, including ballot stuffing, restricted access for observers, and the detention of opposition polling agents.

Reports have also emerged of an extensive internet shutdown that coincided with the voting and counting periods, further fueling suspicions that the digital blackout was a deliberate attempt to block transparency and restrict communication.

In several regions, especially in opposition strongholds, witnesses have reported incidents of post-election violence involving clashes between protesters and security forces. Human rights groups have expressed alarm at the reports of beatings, arrests, and disappearances that have followed the declaration of results.

International observers from the African Union, the European Union, and several diplomatic missions have voiced serious concerns about the credibility of the process, citing limited access to polling stations and the lack of a level playing field for all candidates.

Despite the mounting criticism, President Samia Suluhu has called for unity and calm, urging Tanzanians to respect the verdict of the electoral body and move forward “as one nation under peace and democracy.”

However, opposition leaders have dismissed her appeal, insisting that democracy cannot exist without accountability and that the election results represent “a complete betrayal of the Tanzanian people’s will.”

Civil society groups have now called on the international community to intervene and support an independent review of the election results, warning that the country risks sliding into deeper political instability if grievances are ignored.

As tensions continue to rise across several regions, the government has deployed additional security forces to maintain order, while social media users report restricted access to platforms such as X, Facebook, and WhatsApp.

For many Tanzanians, the events surrounding this election echo painful memories of past polls where allegations of state interference overshadowed democratic aspirations.

With a 98 percent victory margin, questions continue to grow over whether the result reflects genuine popular support or the tightening grip of power by a government increasingly accused of silencing dissent.

The world now watches closely as Tanzania stands at a critical crossroads — between maintaining stability and restoring the people’s faith in democracy through transparency, justice, and reform.

The Maravi Post