Tanzania's Lingering Scars: A Year of Unmourned Election Massacres

A year after Tanzania's bloody October 29 election, the nation remains deeply traumatized by the violence, while government critics live in pervasive fear of abduction, arbitrary arrest, and charges of treason or terrorism. The election, which saw President Samia Suluhu Hassan declared the winner with an overwhelming 98 percent of the vote after much of the opposition was excluded, triggered days of protests that were brutally suppressed by security forces. Rights groups and the opposition claim thousands were killed, a stark contrast to the government-appointed commission's death toll of 518.

The human cost of the violence is still profoundly felt. Twaha Bomeza, 61, recounts how shrapnel lodged in his eye during a shootout to disperse protesters, leaving him with lost teeth, internal eye wounds, shortness of breath, and constant headaches, all requiring unaffordable surgery. Joseph Zakayo, 37, bears a huge scar on his thigh from a gunshot wound sustained during the unrest, which has left him unable to operate his motorcycle taxi business, signaling a major setback in his life.

As the anniversary approached, commemorative efforts emerged. The Catholic Church held special masses on October 29, 2026, and called for nationwide masses to honor the victims, while the main opposition party, Chadema, announced a seven-day mourning period. Chadema explicitly stated, "Tanzania has become a dictatorship -- an authoritarian state that neither upholds the rule of law nor guarantees human rights." However, these efforts were met with a heavy police presence in Dar es Salaam and official warnings against any "criminal" mobilization, despite a presidential commission having recommended a memorial. Anna Bwana, director of civil society group Twaweza East Africa, criticized the contradiction, stating, "If you commemorate, then you're acknowledging what happened... And how can you commemorate when you're still kidnapping others."

Analysts describe Tanzania as "tense" and in a "state of terror," with arbitrary arrests on the rise. Rights activist Tito Magoti emphasized, "The country is not only in a mourning mood but also in a state of terror. We live in paranoia." The state's heavy-handed approach is evident in ongoing legal battles and disappearances. Opposition leader Tundu Lissu faces a treason trial, with a verdict due on November 6, after being arrested for championing a "no reform, no election" campaign and staging a hunger strike for access to his lawyer. Senior opposition official John Pambalu was charged with treason, and Tanzanian dissident Twaha Mwaipaya was abducted in Kenya and remains missing. Fulgence Massawe of the Legal and Human Rights Centre confirmed his organization is representing around 56 people facing terrorism-related charges, viewing this as an attempt to "silence all critics and opposition figures."

The government's response to the violence, including the formation of a presidential commission, has drawn severe criticism. Critics argue the commission was established in "bad faith" to help the government "clean Tanzania's image" internationally and to "deny and delete the history of their complicity in the massacre." Amnesty International has also criticized Tanzania for failing to hold those responsible accountable, instead accusing the state of "weaponizing counterterrorism laws to silence critics and instil fear." Internationally, Tanzania has faced condemnation from Western partners, with the US ambassador warning that the killings "will not be swept under the rug." In response, President Hassan has sought to build closer ties with Moscow, attending a Russia-Africa summit. The collective sentiment is that despite visible reminders and ongoing trauma, the government continues to suppress any acknowledgment or justice for the victims.