Curfew Lifted in Dar es Salaam as Tanzania Grapples With Post-Election Fallout

Tanzanian authorities have lifted the night-time curfew imposed on Dar es Salaam since last Wednesday, as the country slowly recovers from deadly election protests that paralyzed the commercial capital.

The unrest triggered a nationwide internet shutdown and forced most shops in Dar es Salaam to close, creating acute shortages of basic goods and sending prices soaring. Schools were shuttered and public transport ground to a halt.

By Tuesday, some shops had reopened and traffic had resumed, though long queues persisted at petrol stations across the city.

Meanwhile, families continue to search for missing relatives or bury those killed in clashes between security forces and opposition supporters, who denounced the presidential poll as fraudulent.

Contested Election Outcome

President Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in on Monday after being declared the winner of last Wednesday’s election with 98% of the vote. However, observers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) stated in a preliminary report that the election fell short of democratic standards.

The two main opposition leaders were barred from contesting. Tundu Lissu remains in detention on treason charges, which he denies, while Luhaga Mpina’s candidacy was rejected on technical grounds.

Mounting Casualty Claims and Missing Persons

Lissu’s Chadema party told AFP it had recorded “no less than 800” deaths by Saturday. A diplomatic source in Tanzania told the BBC there was credible evidence of at least 500 fatalities. The UN human rights office earlier reported at least 10 deaths in three cities, while the government has not released official casualty figures.

In a concerning development, Chadema now reports that its deputy chairman, John Heche, has gone missing after being collected from a police station in the capital, Dodoma, on Tuesday morning.

“His whereabouts remain unknown, and his family and the party are deeply concerned about his safety and current location,” the party stated.

Police have refused to comment on the matter.

Disturbing Reports From Hospitals

A doctor at Dar es Salaam’s Muhimbili Hospital, speaking anonymously for safety reasons, described vehicles marked “Municipal Burial Services” collecting bodies from the mortuary at night.

“They are getting into the mortuary at night to pick bodies of those believed to have died during protests, they leave and take them to unknown destination,” the doctor said. “Relatives are not being given the bodies and survivors are being taken from emergency department to unknown destination by the police.”

Families in Anguish

The human toll extends across borders. A Kenyan family is seeking government help to repatriate the body of John Okoth Ogutu, a 33-year-old teacher allegedly shot by police while buying food in Dar es Salaam.

His sister, Celestine Ogutu, described him as “a loving, hard-working man who hated arguments.” She recalled, “The last time I talked to him was on 22nd September when he was wishing me my birthday, the only family member who remembered.”

In Dar es Salaam, a woman identified as Mama Kassim told the BBC she hasn’t seen her two sons since polling day. “I don’t know where he is, I don’t know whether he has been arrested, I don’t know if he is injured… Oh God, protect my son. He’s only 21 years old.”

International Condemnation

Human Rights Watch condemned authorities for responding to protests “with lethal force and other abuses,” urging investigations and prosecutions. Amnesty International expressed alarm at the use of excessive force resulting in protester deaths and injuries.

The government has sought to downplay the violence, blaming foreign nationals for stoking it. During her inauguration, President Samia acknowledged the “loss of lives” but said it was “not surprising” that some arrested were foreigners.

While internet services are slowly being restored, social media remains restricted, and police have warned against sharing protest images.

Source: BBC News. Additional reporting from Elizabeth Ojina and Richard Kagoe.