Tanzanian President Samia Suduamu Huluan has been sworn in for a second term amid tight security, following an election marred by violent protests and dismissed as a sham by the opposition.
The opening ceremony is now being held at the military exhibition grounds in the capital, Dokoma, instead of the stadium as in previous years. It is closed to the public but is shown on State TV.
Samia was declared the winner on Saturday with 98% of the votes. He faced little opposition decorated with important elections that were arrested or prevented from running.
International observers raised concerns over the apparent election and food violence, with hundreds of people reportedly killed.
The authorities have sought to reduce the level of violence. It was difficult to get information from the country or confirm the death toll, amid a nationwide internet blackout on election day.
Wearing a red headscarf and dark glasses, the samia took her oath in a ceremony attended by regional leaders and dignitaries, including the presidents of Somalia, Zambia, Mozambique, and Burundi. State Broadcaster TBC earlier said that the public will not attend the event.
In his victory speech on Saturday, Samia said the polls were “free and democratic” and described the protesters as “failures”.
Opposition leaders and activists say hundreds have been killed in clashes with security forces. The opposition Chadema told the AFP News Agency that there were “less than 800 people” on Saturday, while a political source in Tanzania told the BBC that there is evidence that at least 500 people were killed.
The UN human rights office earlier said there were credible reports of at least 10 deaths in the three cities.
After the unrest, the prices of food, fuel and other essentials have doubled or tripled in many places. Schools and colleges are closed and public transport is stopped.
Chadema – which was banned from contesting – rejected the results announced by the Electoral Commission, saying they “have no basis in fact such as the fact that no real elections took place in Tanzania”. Call for new elections.
On the day of the election, the polling stations remained empty – but the electoral authorities later said that the turnout was 87%.
On Sunday, said police spokesman David Eisme, they accused motorcycle operators and foreigners of receiving violent demonstrations and vandalism.
He said there are people who entered the country illegally with the intention of causing chaos”.
MUNGU urged Tanzanians to report “any foreigner who is unknown or who is doing work in Tanzania that is unclear” to the authorities.
His comments come amid reports that several Kenyan tribes have lost their lives in Tanzania. Kenyan activist Hussein Khalid told X that he had received reports of Kenyan teachers being killed and others still being assigned.
The situation in Tanzania has sparked global concern, with Pope Leo XIV on Sunday calling for prayers, saying post-election violence had erupted with “many victims”.
Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas urged the Tanzanian authorities to act to save lives, while UN Secretary-General António Guntres said he was “deeply concerned” by the situation “which includes deaths and injuries”.
The country’s leading opposition leaders opposed the election – Tundu Lissu is being prosecuted for treason, which he denied, while Luhaga Mpina of AST
Fourteen fringe parties, none of which had significant public support, were allowed to run.
The ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), and Trandermer Tanu, have dominated the country’s politics and have not lost an election since independence.
Ahead of the election, rights groups accused the government of repression, apologizing for what it called “waves of terror” including enforced disappearances, torture, and mass killings of opposition figures.
The government denied the claims, and officials said the election would be free and fair.
Samia came to office in 2021 as Tanzania’s first female President following the death of President John Magufuli.
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