Tanzania lifts curfew and internet blackout
Some Tanzanians began to step out on Tuesday as certain restrictions, like the curfew and internet blackout, were partially lifted following the violent elections that the opposition claims have resulted in hundreds of deaths.
The electoral commission announced that President Samia Suluhu Hassan secured a staggering 98 percent of the vote in the October 29 election, while the opposition has labeled the whole process a “sham.”
Although the total internet blackout that was enforced since the protests erupted on election day has been eased somewhat, getting reliable information from this East African nation remains a challenge.
An AFP journalist observed a slow return to normalcy in the economic capital Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, although people remained scared.
“I hope violence will not come again,” food vendor Rehema Shehoza, 32, told AFP.
“Some of us would die from hunger because I need to get out for work to get my daily bread,” she said.
On Monday, police announced that the curfew imposed on election day had been lifted. After a near-total shutdown of transportation, some public buses were finally back in service.
Long lines formed outside gas stations that were reopening, as prices surged and private tuk-tuks and motorbikes stepped in to fill the void. AFP noted a continued security presence in the country’s largest city, though it was noticeably lighter than in previous days.
The internet seemed to be coming back sporadically, with graphic images reportedly from the protests circulating on social media. However, these images couldn’t be independently verified.
On the same day, the police sent out a text message warning that anyone sharing footage that could incite panic or embarrass individuals online would face punishment.
A diplomatic source revealed that there were credible reports of hundreds, possibly even thousands, of deaths recorded at hospitals and health clinics across Tanzania.
During her acceptance speech, Hassan expressed sadness over “incidents of violence that have led to loss of lives”, without giving any further details.
She also promised security and defence forces would investigate.
The diplomatic source said there were “concerning reports” that the police had used the internet blackout to buy time as they “hunt down opposition members and protesters who might have videos” of atrocities committed last week.
A Dar es Salaam resident told Human Rights Watch her neighbour was shot dead by a man wearing civilian clothing outside his home on October 30.
Communicating by telephone, the woman said her neighbour had not taken part in the protests.
Tanzania lifts curfew and internet blackout
