Tanzania's electoral commission declared President Samia Suluhu Hassan the winner of the presidential election on Saturday, awarding her 97.66 percent of the vote in a contest that sparked widespread unrest.
Hassan, who assumed office in 2021 following the death of her predecessor John Magufuli, secured more than 31.9 million votes out of an estimated total, dominating every constituency amid a reported turnout of nearly 87 percent among 37.6 million registered voters.
The election, held on Wednesday for both the presidency and parliament, descended into chaos as protesters decried the exclusion of Hassan's main challengers and alleged repression against opposition figures.
Violent demonstrations erupted in major cities, with crowds tearing down campaign banners, setting fire to government buildings, and clashing with security forces who responded with tear gas and gunshots.
Witness accounts described a heavy police presence that failed to prevent the disorder, while internet restrictions limited access to social media and mobile services in several urban areas during and after the vote.
A nationwide curfew was imposed since Wednesday, leading to canceled international flights and disruptions at Dar es Salaam's port, a key regional hub for fuel and mineral trade.
The main opposition party, Chadema, which was barred from participating after refusing to sign a code of conduct, condemned the results as a mockery of democracy.
Party spokesman John Kitoka reported that monitors had documented no less than 800 deaths caused by security forces during the week's protests, based on data from hospitals and clinics.
In contrast, the United Nations human rights office cited credible reports of at least 10 fatalities in three cities, while the government dismissed higher figures as hugely exaggerated and denied any excessive use of force.
Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo stated that authorities had responded appropriately to isolated incidents by criminal elements, with no official casualty numbers released.
In her victory speech from Dodoma, the administrative capital, Hassan described the protesters' actions as neither responsible nor patriotic, emphasizing the need to deploy all security measures to protect the nation.
Chadema's leader, Tundu Lissu, remains jailed on treason charges after advocating for electoral reforms, while another opposition candidate, Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo, was disqualified from running.
Rights groups have accused the administration of orchestrating abductions and intimidation in the lead-up to the vote, claims the government has firmly rejected.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over reports of deaths and injuries during the demonstrations, calling for a thorough investigation into allegations of excessive force.
The African Union chair, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, congratulated Hassan while regretting the loss of life and offering condolences to victims' families.
Analyst Alex Vines of the European Council on Foreign Relations described the election as lacking credibility, highlighting an unexpected level of violence driven largely by disenfranchised young Tanzanians, particularly Generation Z.
Critics noted discrepancies in voter turnout compared to the 2020 election under Magufuli, which saw lower participation despite a smaller electorate.
Hassan faced 16 candidates from minor parties, but the absence of viable opposition underscored ongoing tensions over democratic processes in the East African nation.
The disputed outcome has intensified scrutiny on Tanzania's political landscape, where calls for reform persist amid the government's insistence on the poll's fairness.