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Based on the main opposition party, nearly 700 individuals have allegedly been killed during 72 hours of election-related protests in Tanzania.

Clashes Erupts on Polling Day

Uprisings broke out on Wednesday over what activists described as the silencing of the opposition after the exclusion of major contenders from the election contest.

Fatality Figures Stated

An opposition representative declared that scores of people had been killed since the protests commenced.

"Currently, the fatality count in Dar es Salaam is around 350 and for Mwanza it is 200-plus. Including numbers from other places throughout the nation, the overall count is around 700," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that the toll could be significantly greater because fatalities might be occurring during a night-time lockdown that was enforced from election day.

Other Estimates

• A official insider reportedly claimed there had been accounts of exceeding 500 fatalities, "maybe 700-800 in the nationwide."
• Amnesty International reported it had gathered information that a minimum of 100 people had been lost their lives.
• Rival groups asserted their figures had been compiled by a group of activists visiting hospitals and health clinics and "counting fatalities."

Calls for Action

Rival officials called for the authorities to "stop killing our demonstrators" and called for a interim administration to pave the way for democratic elections.

"Halt police brutality. Respect the voice of the public which is fair elections," the spokesperson stated.

Government Measures

Officials reacted by implementing a curfew. Internet disruption were also reported, with global monitors stating it was nationwide.

The following day, the military leader denounced the unrest and labeled the demonstrators "criminals". He stated security forces would seek to contain the situation.

International Reaction

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stated it was "alarmed" by the casualties in the unrest, adding it had received information that no fewer than 10 civilians had been killed by authorities.

The office stated it had collected reliable accounts of fatalities in the port city, in Shinyanga and an eastern area, with officials discharging gunfire and teargas to disperse crowds.

Legal Perspective

A civil rights lawyer claimed it was "unreasonable" for security agencies to use force, stating that the country's president "ought to refrain from using the law enforcement against the civilians."

"The president should heed the people. The mood of the nation is that there was no fair vote … The people are unable to vote for a single contender," the lawyer said.