By Hajara Abdullahi
Samia Suluhu Hassan has been declared the winner of the recently concluded presidential election in Tanzania on Saturday, securing a second term with nearly 98% of the votes.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who first assumed office in 2021 following the death of President John Magufuli, represents the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, which has held power for more than six decades.
According to a BBC News Africa report, the elections, held on Wednesday, were followed by violent protests sparked by the disqualification of opposition figures. Two people reportedly lost their lives in Namanga, a border town between Kenya and Tanzania, while hundreds were injured in the capital, Dodoma, and in the commercial hub, Dar es Salaam. However, the government has yet to confirm any casualties.
The country has been under an internet blackout, with residents resorting to VPNs to bypass restrictions. International journalists relied heavily on social media posts, as local reporters revealed that the Tanzanian government had imposed strict accreditation measures preventing foreign media from covering the elections.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s main opposition leader, Tundu Lissu, has been jailed for months after calling for electoral reforms to ensure free and fair elections. Meanwhile, Luhaga Mpina of the ACT-Wazalendo group was barred from contesting.
At 65, Samia Suluhu Hassan will now govern the East African nation for another five years.