The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, which has governed since Tanzania's independence in 1961, aimed to extend its hold on power in the recent elections.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the incumbent, faced 16 other candidates from smaller parties.
Notably, opposition leader Tundu Lissu remains incarcerated after being charged with treason, and Luhaga Mpina, a presidential candidate from the second-largest opposition party, was barred from running.
The electoral body, as reported by AP quoting state TV, announced that President Hassan had taken an early lead, securing 96.99% of the votes in the initial tally from eight constituencies.
Lawmakers from the European Parliament issued a statement on Thursday, calling the elections "neither free nor fair" and urging international democratic partners to "stand firm in the defense of democracy and human rights."
Violence erupted on Wednesday afternoon as protesters set fire to a bus and a gas station, attacked police stations, and vandalized polling stations.
Amnesty International reported two deaths, a civilian and a police officer, during the protests.
The government has not yet commented on the casualties, but it imposed a curfew in Dar es Salaam, where the majority of protests took place.
Despite these measures, protests continued into the night. The government also instructed public servants to work from home on Thursday to limit non-essential movement.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/protests-in-tanzania-enter-second-day
