Tanzanian Opposition Parties Denounce Elections as Sham, Cite Hundreds of Deaths

Tanzanian opposition parties decried the country's recent elections as "sham" and alleged hundreds of deaths, despite the electoral commission declaring President Samia Suluhu Hassan the winner with 98% of the vote. The country's largest opposition party, Chadema, was banned from contesting the elections and its leader, Tundu Lissu, is currently on trial on treason charges. According to opposition leaders, the election was marred by widespread irregularities, including voter intimidation and ballot stuffing. "You'll never have free, fair, transparent elections in this country," said Freeman Mbowe, the chairman of Chadema, in a statement. "The electoral commission is a tool of the ruling party, and they will do whatever it takes to maintain their grip on power." The electoral commission, however, disputed the opposition's claims, stating that the election was conducted in a transparent and fair manner. "The election was a success, and the results reflect the will of the Tanzanian people," said Amos Makalla, the commission's chairman. "We have evidence to show that the opposition's allegations are baseless and without merit." The opposition's allegations of hundreds of deaths during the election period have not been independently verified, but human rights groups have reported a significant increase in violence and intimidation in the run-up to the election. The government has denied any involvement in the violence, but opposition leaders have accused the ruling party of using state security forces to suppress dissent. President Hassan took the oath of office on Monday, marking the beginning of her second term in office. The inauguration ceremony was attended by dignitaries from across Africa, but unlike previous ceremonies, there were no members of the public in attendance. The opposition's allegations of electoral irregularities and human rights abuses have sparked widespread condemnation from international human rights groups and opposition leaders across Africa. The situation in Tanzania remains tense, with opposition leaders vowing to continue their protests and demands for electoral reform. The electoral commission has announced plans to conduct a review of the election results, but opposition leaders have expressed skepticism about the review's impartiality. The situation in Tanzania is likely to remain volatile in the coming weeks, with opposition leaders and the government locked in a bitter dispute over the legitimacy of the election.