Roughly 700 Purportedly Perish in Tanzanian Poll Demonstrations, Opposition Claims

Per the chief opposition party, approximately 700 people have purportedly lost their lives during a three-day period of voting clashes in Tanzania.

Violence Breaks Out on Voting Day

Uprisings erupted on Wednesday over claims that protesters called the silencing of the opposition after the exclusion of major hopefuls from the presidential ballot.

Fatality Estimates Claimed

An opposition spokesperson claimed that hundreds of individuals had been killed since the protests began.

"As we speak, the number of deaths in the port city is approximately 350 and for Mwanza it is 200-plus. Added to numbers from other places across the country, the total number is nearly 700," the spokesperson stated.

The spokesperson added that the death count could be much higher because deaths might be occurring during a nighttime lockdown that was imposed from Wednesday.

Further Estimates

• A official source supposedly stated there had been reports of over 500 deaths, "possibly 700-800 in the nationwide."
• Amnesty International said it had obtained data that no fewer than 100 people had been killed.
• The opposition claimed their estimates had been gathered by a group of activists going to clinics and medical centers and "documenting dead bodies."

Appeals for Intervention

The opposition demanded the administration to "stop targeting our activists" and called for a interim administration to enable just and transparent votes.

"End violence. Uphold the will of the people which is electoral justice," the spokesperson stated.

Authorities Reaction

Authorities responded by enforcing a lockdown. Online restrictions were also noted, with global observers stating it was nationwide.

The following day, the army chief condemned the unrest and referred to the protesters "lawbreakers". The official stated authorities would attempt to control the crisis.

International Reaction

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said it was "alarmed" by the fatalities and harm in the demonstrations, noting it had gathered information that a minimum of 10 people had been killed by security forces.

The organization stated it had obtained trustworthy information of casualties in the port city, in a northwestern region and an eastern area, with law enforcement firing gunfire and teargas to scatter protesters.

Expert View

An human rights advocate claimed it was "unjustified" for authorities to employ violence, stating that the country's leader "ought to refrain from using the law enforcement against the people."

"She should listen to the public. The sentiment of the country is that there was no fair vote … We cannot elect only one option," the lawyer commented.