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Tanzania, once hailed as one of Africa’s most stable nations, is now reeling from its worst post-election violence in decades following a disputed vote that handed President Samia Suluhu Hassan a resounding 98% victory.
The violence, which has left families searching for missing loved ones and mourning the dead, has drawn rare condemnation from regional bodies, including the African Union and Southern African Development Community (SADC).
From Hope to Unrest
When Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzania’s first female president, assumed office in 2021 after the sudden death of John Magufuli, she was celebrated for her calm, diplomatic leadership.
Her early promises of reconciliation, reform, and rebuilding through her “4R Doctrine” inspired optimism both at home and abroad.
However, analysts say her recent tenure tells a different story.
“Samia has pushed Tanzania to its thick winter of protests, instability and uncertainty,” said Prof Peter Kagwanja, a Kenyan governance expert.
The unrest, largely driven by young Tanzanians, mirrors global Gen Z-led protests against entrenched governments and political stagnation.
Deep Roots of Discontent
According to political analysts, the protests reflect years of bottled frustration, stemming from limited reforms, youth unemployment, and internal power struggles within the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party.
“The protests were a culmination of anger that has been simmering for years,” said Tanzanian-born cartoonist Godfrey Mwampembwa, popularly known as Gado.
His widely shared satirical cartoons portray Samia as increasingly authoritarian and intolerant of political opposition.
Veteran journalist Jenerali Ulimwengu described the election as “the boiling point reached by societal soups that had been cooking for decades.”
The Election That Changed Everything
Tanzania’s recent election, which many observers called a “coronation, not a contest,” saw opposition leaders Tundu Lissu and Luhaga Mpina barred from running.
Prof Kagwanja criticized the move, saying it violated the democratic spirit championed by Tanzania’s founding father Julius Nyerere:
“You don’t jail your opponents; you seek to win public support against them.”
Months leading up to the poll were marked by arrests, abductions, and an internet blackout, with reports suggesting that hundreds may have died during post-election unrest.
The “Lioness” of CCM
Nicknamed “Simba Jike” (Swahili for lioness), President Samia is accused of centralizing power and purging loyalists of her predecessor in a bid to secure her position within CCM.
Analysts argue that her growing control over military and intelligence circles mirrors the strongman tactics once attributed to Magufuli.
“She closed all avenues to a fair contest,” Prof Kagwanja noted. “Samia chose coronation over competition.”
Tanzania’s Image in Ruins
For a country long admired for its political calm and unity, the current unrest has shattered what many called “the myth of Tanzanian exceptionalism.”
“CCM mistook silence for peace—it was actually exhaustion,” wrote East African political commentator Charles Onyango-Obbo.
As President Samia begins her second term, she faces mounting international scrutiny and questions about her government’s legitimacy.
In her inauguration speech, she defended the election as “fair and transparent” but blamed “foreign actors” for inciting violence.
Yet, both Chadema, the main opposition party, and international observers dispute that claim, alleging systemic repression and electoral fraud.
What Lies Ahead
The future of Tanzania now hangs in the balance. Once celebrated as a model of African democracy and unity, the nation is confronting a new era of political tension, youth rebellion, and diminishing trust in leadership.
Whether President Samia Suluhu Hassan can reconcile her image as the “gentle reformer” with accusations of authoritarianism will define not only her legacy—but Tanzania’s path forward.
