Samia Suluhu Hassan was set to be sworn in as president on Monday while internet services in the country were blocked amid post-election protests, which the opposition
State television said the inauguration would be held in the State House where the public would not attend the event, instead of the usual venue, a stadium.
The country’s electoral commission has But the main opposition party, Chadema, labeled last week’s vote a “sham” and called for fresh elections. The party had been barred from taking part in the vote.
The opposition claimed that at least 800 people had been killed by security forces during the protests which since last Wednesday.
Opposition fears more killings amid blackout
The East African Country has been under an since Wednesday.
The French AFP news agency cited a diplomatic source as saying there were credible reports of hundreds of deaths registered at hospitals and clinics across the country.
The diplomatic source went on to say there were “concerning reports” that the local police was using the blackout to hunt down opposition leaders and activists who may have video evidence of last week’s alleged killings.
The French news agency had earlier reported that local police were stopping almost everyone and checking their bags and IDs.
Schools and universities remained closed on Monday. Public transport was also halted.
Meanwhile, Chadema called for the United Nations and the International Criminal Court to conduct independent investigations into the alleged killings.
Tanzania’s one-horse election race
President Samia Suluhu Hassan of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party went into the election to secure a second term in office virtually unopposed. The Chadema party boycotted the poll after its leader, Tundu Lissu, was imprisoned.
The other opposition contender, Luhaga Mpina from the Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT-Wazalendo), was disqualified by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Sixteen opposition candidates representing smaller parties were on the ballot but were not expected to be a challenge to Suluhu Hassan.
Edited by: Rana Taha
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