Some residents of Tanzania cautiously resumed daily activities on Tuesday following the partial lifting of restrictions, including a curfew and an internet shutdown, imposed after post-election unrest that the opposition claims killed hundreds.
According to the country’s electoral commission, President Samia Suluhu Hassan secured a sweeping victory in the October 29 election, winning 98 percent of the vote. However, opposition groups have dismissed the outcome as a “sham.”
The nationwide internet blackout that began on election day has been partially restored, but obtaining credible information from the East African nation remains difficult.
An AFP correspondent in Dar es Salaam reported a gradual return to normal life, though fear still gripped many residents.
“I hope violence will not come again,” 32-year-old food vendor Rehema Shehoza told AFP. “Some of us would die from hunger because I need to get out for work to get my daily bread,” she added.
Police lifted the election-day curfew on Monday, allowing limited movement after days of paralysis. Public transportation began operating again, with a few buses back on the roads. Long queues formed at petrol stations, where fuel prices had surged, while private motorbikes and tuk-tuks helped fill transport gaps.
Although security forces remained visible across Dar es Salaam, their presence was less intense than in previous days.
Internet access has returned intermittently, allowing graphic videos allegedly showing last week’s violence to circulate online. However, AFP could not verify the authenticity of the footage.
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Authorities have since warned citizens against sharing material that could cause public alarm. A police text message sent Monday threatened punishment for anyone distributing content “that could create panic or humiliate people online.”
A diplomatic source told AFP that hospitals and clinics across Tanzania had recorded “hundreds — perhaps even thousands — of deaths” linked to the violence.
Opposition party Chadema reported at least “no less than 800” fatalities by Saturday, though none of the figures have been independently verified.
In her victory address, President Hassan expressed sorrow over “incidents of violence that have led to loss of lives,” promising that security agencies would look into the events.
The same diplomatic source said there were “concerning reports” suggesting that police used the internet shutdown as cover to track and detain opposition members and protesters suspected of possessing footage of the violence.
Human Rights Watch also quoted a Dar es Salaam resident who claimed her neighbour was shot dead outside his home on October 30 by a man in civilian clothing. The woman, speaking by phone, said the victim had not participated in any protests.