Tanzania’s National Electoral Commission has declared President Samia Suluhu Hassan the winner of the October 29 presidential election, securing an overwhelming 97.66% of the votes — a result overshadowed by an opposition boycott and reports of pre-election violence.
According to official results released on Saturday, President Samia of the long-ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party garnered 31,913,866 votes out of 32,678,844 cast. Her landslide victory extends CCM’s six-decade dominance in Tanzanian politics.
The main opposition party, Chadema, boycotted the election after several of its top leaders — including Tundu Lissu — were barred from running on treason charges. Rights groups say over 100 opposition figures and activists were arrested during the campaign period, sparking nationwide protests that led to at least 10 confirmed deaths in clashes with security forces.
In a statement, the United Nations called for an independent investigation into the unrest, urging Tanzanian authorities to uphold human rights and ensure accountability. However, the government has denied allegations of excessive force, insisting that security agencies acted lawfully to maintain order.
President Samia, who first took office in 2021 following the death of John Magufuli, has pledged to continue her development agenda and “strengthen national unity.”
Observers note that while voter turnout appeared high, the absence of major opposition candidates has raised questions about the credibility of the electoral process and the future of political pluralism in Tanzania.
