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Their concerns were triggered by a letter allegedly issued on October 27, 2025, congratulating Cameroon’s long-serving President Paul Biya following his re-election in a disputed poll held on October 12.
Following the unrest, the internet was cut nationwide and most shops in Dar es Salaam closed amid acute shortages of basic essentials and soaring prices. Schools shut and public transport came to a halt.
The opposition outfit called on the international community not to recognize Suluhu as the leader of Tanzania, claiming she lacks legitimacy.
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 United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) confirmed reports of at least ten fatalities in Dar es Salaam, Shinyanga, and Morogoro. OHCHR spokesperson Seif Magango called on security forces to “refrain from using unnecessary or disproportionate force, including lethal weapons, against protesters, and to make every effort to de-escalate tensions.”
The announcement came after a tense polling day marked by street demonstrations, chaos, and clashes in several regions across the country. Security officials confirmed that the curfew aims to restore calm amid reports of ongoing unrest.
The elections, which began early this morning, have seen a relatively low turnout, as many of the leading challengers to President Samia Suluhu were either imprisoned or barred from running. Suluhu, who assumed office in 2021 following the sudden death of President John Magufuli, faces a critical test in her bid for a full term.
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.
On Wednesday, John Heche, deputy chairperson of opposition party Chadema, became the latest member of his party to be arrested after officers detained him outside the High Court in economic capital Dar es Salaam.
Since taking office in 2021 following the sudden death of John Magufuli, President Suluhu has positioned herself as a reformist leader.
Mpina's disqualification came on the eve of the official campaign period, which begins Thursday, August 28, and deepens concerns over the narrowing space for opposition politics in the country.
