The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Tanzania is witnessing widespread protests as frustrated youths take to the streets, destroying polling stations to express anger over what they term an unfair election process.
Videos circulating online show demonstrators tearing down tents and carrying away chairs from voting centers. One protester is heard saying, “This is a polling station. There will be no voting here.”
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The unrest comes amid growing discontent with an election expected to see President Samia Suluhu Hassan run with minimal opposition. Reports indicate a notably low voter turnout in several regions.
International observers from the African Union (AU), Southern African Development Community (SADC), East African Community (EAC), and the Great Lakes region are monitoring the situation closely.
President Samia Suluhu, who succeeded the late John Magufuli, is running under the long-ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party — which has maintained power since Tanzania adopted multi-party politics in 1992.
However, this year’s elections have faced criticism for lack of competition. Although 17 presidential candidates were cleared to run, the main opposition party, Chadema, remains banned. Its leader, Tundu Lissu, is facing treason charges following his April arrest after calling for electoral reforms.
Chadema has since urged supporters to boycott the polls, while deputy leader John Heche has also been detained.
Speaking before his arrest, Heche told the BBC that President Samia’s political reforms were merely cosmetic — arguing that while rallies had resumed, opposition parties continued to face major restrictions.
Meanwhile, ACT Wazalendo’s presidential candidate, Luhana Mpina, has been struck off the ballot twice despite a brief reinstatement by the High Court. The Attorney General’s appeal led to his final disqualification, fueling further voter apathy.
Many citizens have expressed frustration, claiming the process lacks transparency.
“We don’t have an election without a strong opposition,” said Godfrey Lusana, a resident of Dar es Salaam. “The outcome is already known. I won’t waste time voting.”
