Some 700 Reportedly Fallen in Tanzanian Poll Protests, Rival Asserts

As per the primary rival faction, roughly 700 individuals have supposedly been killed during 72 hours of election-related protests in Tanzania.

Clashes Erupts on Voting Day

Unrest broke out on election day over what demonstrators called the stifling of the opposition after the disqualification of major hopefuls from the presidential ballot.

Death Estimates Reported

An opposition spokesperson declared that numerous of civilians had been lost their lives since the demonstrations commenced.

"At present, the number of deaths in Dar es Salaam is about 350 and for another city it is 200-plus. Added to numbers from elsewhere across the country, the overall figure is approximately 700," the official remarked.

He mentioned that the number could be even larger because fatalities could be taking place during a night-time curfew that was imposed from election day.

Further Accounts

• An official insider supposedly claimed there had been reports of exceeding 500 fatalities, "possibly 700-800 in the whole country."
• The human rights organization said it had gathered data that a minimum of 100 people had been lost their lives.
• The opposition stated their estimates had been gathered by a team of activists going to hospitals and medical centers and "documenting the deceased."

Demands for Change

Rival officials demanded the government to "halt targeting our activists" and called for a transitional government to pave the way for just and transparent votes.

"Stop excessive force. Respect the will of the public which is fair elections," the spokesperson declared.

Authorities Reaction

The government responded by enforcing a restriction. Online restrictions were also noted, with global watchdogs reporting it was nationwide.

On Thursday, the military leader denounced the unrest and referred to the demonstrators "criminals". The official said authorities would try to manage the unrest.

Global Response

The UN human rights office said it was "worried" by the fatalities and harm in the unrest, adding it had gathered accounts that no fewer than 10 civilians had been slain by authorities.

The organization stated it had received trustworthy information of casualties in Dar es Salaam, in Shinyanga and an eastern area, with security forces firing gunfire and teargas to scatter protesters.

Legal View

A human rights attorney stated it was "unacceptable" for law enforcement to use force, noting that the country's president "ought to avoid sending the police against the civilians."

"The president needs to heed the people. The sentiment of the country is that there was an unfair process … We cannot choose a single contender," the advocate said.