Dar es Salaam – A chorus of local and international voices is demanding accountability for killings and widespread human rights abuses that have rocked Tanzania following the nation’s disputed general election on October 29.
Civil society organisations, opposition parties, and international observer missions are calling for an independent and impartial investigation into the deaths of civilians, journalists, and police officers during what has been described as the largest protests in the country’s history.
The violence, which was met with a deadly crackdown by security forces and a nationwide internet shutdown, has cast a dark shadow over the democratic process and prompted calls for urgent constitutional reforms.
In the wake of the unrest, a coalition of human rights groups, legal bodies, and media associations has issued a series of powerful statements condemning the violence and demanding justice.
The Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) has called for the “appointment of an independent judicial commission to investigate these killings and grave human rights abuses,” stressing that “accountability is essential for justice and national healing.”
This sentiment was echoed by the opposition party ACT Wazalendo, which demanded an “independent international investigation” and that all those involved, from those who issued orders to those who executed them, be held accountable.
The violence erupted on election day, October 29, as protests against the conduct of the election were met with force by security services. The protests, largely driven by young people, quickly spread across several regions, including Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, Songwe Arusha, Mwanza, Ruvuma, Shinyanga, Geita, and Njombe.
The government responded by imposing a curfew and a complete internet shutdown that lasted for six days. Numerous sources have confirmed deaths and injuries, with ACT Wazalendo reporting the killing of its council candidate for Sirari Ward, Dafroza Jacob, who was allegedly tortured to death while being arrested.
Demands for accountability
The demands for accountability have been remarkably consistent across the political and civil society spectrum. The Tanzania Media Women’s Association (TAMWA) has called for a thorough investigation to ensure justice is done and for the government to initiate a reconciliation process.
The Tanzania Editors’ Forum (TEF), which represents media leaders across the country, has similarly urged authorities to conduct a thorough investigation whilst calling on the government to initiate a reconciliation process to “heal the wounds on all sides.”
The opposition Civic United Front (CUF) has demanded the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry led by a trusted judge to investigate the killings and hold perpetrators accountable.
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The Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) has raised broader concerns about the election’s impact on Tanzania’s democratic trajectory, noting that the violence has “changed the perception of people inside and outside the country regarding Tanzania’s history of peace, unity and solidarity.”
The council is seeking meetings with regulatory authorities and media institutions to discuss how to protect media freedom and citizens’ freedom of expression going forward.
Civil society research organisation Twaweza East Africa issued a statement titled Picking up the pieces: In solidarity with all Tanzanians, mourning “the innocent lives of people lost in the post-election violence.”
The organisation emphasised that “in times such as this, our collective response must be guided not by fear or division, but by humanity and conscience,” and called for naming the pain honestly as a path to healing.
Similarly, Policy Forum, a network dedicated to promoting transparency and accountability, expressed alarm at “credible reports of excessive use of force by police and security agencies against civilians,” stating that “accountability and justice are essential for restoring public confidence in state institutions.”
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The organisation called for “transparent and independent investigations into the violence and for those responsible to be held to account through due legal process.”
International observer missions from the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) were also critical of the election process. Both missions noted that the pre-election environment was uncompetitive, citing the boycott by the main opposition party, CHADEMA, the disqualification of an opposition presidential candidate, and the arrest of opposition leaders.
The AU mission stated that “regular elections without genuine competition and adherence to democratic principles result in voter apathy and ultimately lead to citizens’ disengagement from political activities,” and called for “urgent constitutional reforms and inclusive politics.”
The SADC mission highlighted several constitutional and legal flaws, including a provision that bars any court from challenging the presidential election results. Both missions reported that their observers faced restrictions and that the internet shutdown hampered their ability to observe the closing and counting processes.
The Tanzania Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance (CHRAGG), a government body that operates as an independent national institution for the protection and promotion of human rights and good governance, has announced that it will conduct an investigation into the recent incidents.
Speaking to the press in Dodoma on November 5, 2025, Retired Judge Mathew Mwaimu, the Chairperson of CHRAGG, condemned the events that have occurred since October 29, 2025, saying they have led to a serious breach of peace across the country.
“As you will recall, October 29, 2025, was the day of the general elections for the President, Members of Parliament, and Councillors,” said Mwaimu. “On that day, when citizens went to cast their votes, there were also incidents of demonstrations in various parts of the country. During these protests, several incidents occurred: first, the deaths of a number of citizens in different areas, and secondly, the destruction of public property, including the burning of buildings, bus rapid transit stations, and some courts in the country.”
National mourning
In response to the crisis, the main opposition party, CHADEMA, has declared seven days of national mourning from November 5 to November 11, with party flags flying at half-mast.
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In a strongly worded statement released on November 6, CHADEMA Secretary General John Mnyika rejected the legitimacy of the election results and called for three parallel mechanisms of accountability.
These are the establishment of a Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission with recommendations from credible national religious, civil society, and political institutions; a judicial commission of inquiry; and the involvement of international investigative bodies from the United Nations and the International Criminal Court.
Mnyika accused state security forces of being the “main suspects” in the killings and argued that they should not be allowed to investigate themselves. The government denies that any killing occurred during the protests.
Veteran politician James Mbatia lamented the violence, stating, “Our country used to be called ‘Geneva of Africa,’ today it has become a grave for burying brothers and sisters who were killed.”
While President Samia Suluhu Hassan has pledged reconciliation during inauguration speech, the calls for a formal, independent investigation continue to grow, with many arguing that true healing and national unity cannot be achieved without justice and accountability for the lives lost and the abuses suffered.
On its part, the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), led by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, held a meeting of the Central Committee of the National Executive Council (CC-NEC) in Dodoma on November 5, 2025 — its first since President Samia’s inauguration.
In a statement released after the meeting, the party urged the government to take measures to ensure that the country remains peaceful and stable. However, the statement did not make any direct reference to, or endorsement of, calls for the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry as proposed by civil society and opposition groups.
