Tanzania Urges Citizens to Stay Home Following Turbulent Election Day
Tanzania woke up to an unusual quiet on Thursday, as the government instructed civil servants and students to stay home just hours after a tense Election Day marked by protests, clashes, and a curfew in Dar es Salaam.
The unrest began Wednesday when demonstrators flooded the streets of Dar es Salaam and other major cities. Their frustration stemmed largely from the disqualification of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s two key challengers, a move opposition supporters called deeply undemocratic and part of a growing pattern of silencing political dissent.
Chaos erupted as protesters confronted police, and a government office was set ablaze in the commercial capital. Officials also restricted internet access across the nation, further intensifying public anger.
A late-night announcement on the government spokesperson Gerson Msigwa’s Instagram page ordered public sector workers to work remotely unless physically required at their offices. State media soon followed, instructing students to remain home and study remotely for the day.
By early Thursday, Dar es Salaam’s streets were calm but heavily guarded by security forces, a stark contrast to the energy and emotions that surged just hours earlier.
Despite restrictions, conversations on alternative communication apps like Zello suggested that protest leaders were already planning more demonstrations, including marches toward key government sites — a clear indication that tensions remain far from settled.
The opposition party CHADEMA—which had earlier been barred from contesting after refusing to sign a code of conduct—had called the election a “coronation,” insisting that true democratic participation had been blocked. Its leader Tundu Lissu, facing treason charges, became another symbol for those demanding political transparency and reform.
President Hassan, celebrated early in her leadership for loosening political restrictions after the late John Magufuli’s rule, now faces growing criticisms of increased repression, alleged kidnappings of critics, and lack of transparency around those accusations.
She previously stated that she ordered investigations into such incidents, yet no official findings have been released—leaving many citizens and rights activists deeply concerned about the future of Tanzania’s democratic voice.