By Matik Kueth
On Monday, the newly elected Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan, was sworn in for a second term in a ceremony marked by tight security and restricted public access, following a fiercely disputed election overshadowed by violence and censorship.
Held at a military parade ground in Dodoma, the inauguration was broadcast exclusively by state-run television, with ordinary citizens kept away.
Samia, who officially claimed victory with a staggering 98% of the vote, faced virtually no competition; many opposition figures were either jailed or disqualified before polling day.
The post-election period has been marred by deadly unrest and an information blackout.
Independent media and observers have struggled to verify the true scale of casualties amid an internet shutdown that began on election day.
Opposition groups, including the main Chadema party, allege that security forces killed hundreds of demonstrators protesting alleged vote-rigging.
While the government insists the election was “free and democratic,” international observers and rights groups have raised alarm over the credibility of the process and the violent suppression of dissent.
In her victory speech, President Samia dismissed the protests as “acts of unpatriotic”, vowing to maintain order and unity.