New protests have hit Tanzania after the elections were affected by the harvest

Fresh protests have descended on Tanzania’s major cities, a day after elections were marred by clashes between opposition supporters and police.

Gunshots were heard in the northern city of Mwanza, while clashes erupted in the capital Dar DOODOY and City Dar es Salaam, which is heavily fortified with blocked highways.

Demonstrators accused the government of undermining democracy, as the main opposition leader in prison and another opposition figure qualified for the presidential election, strengthening the chances of the President of Samia Suduhu of Hassuanu of Hasiya.

The Electoral Commission has started to announce the results, with Samia getting almost 95% of the vote in the South West province of MBEA.

He also leads some regions in the country of Zanzibar.

It is the announcement of the results that has reportedly sparked new protests.

The US Embassy in Tanzania reported that the road to Dar es Salaam’s International Airport was among the major highways that remained closed on Thursday.

An eyewitness told the BBC that he saw hundreds of protesters pouring into the city of Mwanza, which is on the outskirts of Lake Victoria and has a large population behind Dar es Salaam.

“After 10 minutes, we started hearing gunshots and tear gas,” he said.

“We see some injured people being taken out of our way.”

In Namanga Town near the Kenyan border, business was paralyzed as the police met with protesters, disposing of the gas spilled in Kenya.

Trucks transporting goods were stuck at the border.

The government has sent civil servants to work from home until Friday as it rises.

Amnesty International said it was “deeply disturbed” by reports that a police officer and a police officer were killed in a clash on Wednesday.

A curfew was imposed in Dar es Salaam, with sources telling the BBC that Muhimbili City Hospital has seen an influx of injured patients.

Internet connections are still severely disrupted throughout the country – Amnesty’s situation warns and introduces the situation. It has called on the authorities to allow unrestricted access to information.

For the time protesters are said to be using a Walkie-Talkie app, called Zello, to plan their next move.

President Samia is expected to secure a second term after opposition supporters were banned from running. The poll is also expected to be a disgrace to his party, which has not lost an election since independence.

Tundu Lissu, the main opposition leader, is in prison for treason, which he denied, and his party voted for this vote.

Fourteen fringe groups, none of which have significant public support, were canceled in the competition against Samia.

The only other serious opposition, Luhaga Mpina of the ACT-WAZalendo Party, qualified for the official position.

Samia came into office in 2021 as Tanzania’s first female President following the death in office of President John Magulifuli.

He was initially praised for easing political pressure under his leadership, but political space has waned, with his government accused of targeting critics with arrests and detentions.

Additional reporting by Richard Kagoe

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