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Court documents show that nearly 340 people were initially detained for their alleged involvement in protests and unrest surrounding the October 29 elections. Of these, 302 individuals have been formally charged with treason, one of the gravest crimes under Tanzanian law, which can carry the death penalty.
Paradigm Initiative (PIN) said during a virtual press briefing on Wednesday that it is preparing to take the matter to court to ensure that authorities are held accountable for what it termed an unlawful and undemocratic act.
The report further indicates that the continued suspension of X, which started on May 21, 2025, has caused additional losses amounting to USD 165.8 million (TZS 408 billion or Sh21 billion). Combined, the two measures have drained more than USD 238 million (TZS 586 billion or Sh30 billion) from the economy.
The result cements Suluhu’s position at the helm of the East African nation, extending her leadership following her succession of the late John Magufuli in 2021.
The Zanzibar Electoral Commission announced on Thursday night that Mwinyi received 74.8 per cent in the poll held on Wednesday, cementing his position and extending his leadership of the islands.
Parts of Dar es Salaam and Dodoma witnessed heavy deployments of security officers as roads were sealed off and patrols intensified. Gunshots were heard in Mwanza, where crowds flooded the streets before security forces responded.
The PS also pointed out that Tanzania has its own channels for handling internal issues and encouraged Kenyan citizens to allow the neighbour to manage its situation. He emphasised that Kenya wishes Tanzania stability as it navigates unrest following a contested election.
The Parliament lamented that instead of giving citizens a voice, the electoral period became a symbol of democratic erosion marked by intimidation, legal persecution and deliberate exclusion of dissenting voices. Lawmakers said the electoral environment had been compromised long before voting day, noting a pattern of arrests, restrictions on assembly and censorship.
More than 37 million registered voters are set to decide whether President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who assumed office in March 2021 after the death of John Pombe Magufuli, will secure a full term.
The country’s Independent Electoral Commission announced on Monday, October 28, 2025, that the 83-year-old incumbent had won a fourth term with 89.77 percent of the ballots cast.
Guinea now has one of the highest election costs in the region. By comparison, Nigeria’s 2022 deposit was 100 million naira ($67,000), Cameroon’s is $53,000, and Ivory Coast’s is $90,000.
According to the announcement, the President used her authority under the Public Holidays Act to set the date as a non-working day, giving both public and private sector employees time to cast their ballots.