- Samia Suluhu Hassan has been officially sworn in for her second term as the President of Tanzania amid allegations that the election was undermined by post-election violence
- Opposition parties criticized the government for threats and arrests, while several candidates were barred from participating in the elections.
- International investigators warned of the killings and the nationwide shutdown of the Internet that prevented access to reliable information
- In her oath, Samia swore to protect the constitution and serve Tanzanians “wholeheartedly”
President of Tanzania Samia Solution Hassan has been officially sworn in for a second term, following an election marred by allegations of vote fraud, deadly protests, and internet blackouts that shut down communications across the country.
Source: Twitter
The election held on October 29, was one of the most controversial elections in recent history Tanzania.
Opposition parties described it as a “full manifestation,” while referring to threats, arrests, and the exclusion of important candidates who were either imprisoned or prevented from contesting.
Where is Samia Suluhu sworn in?
The swearing-in ceremony was held on Monday, November 3, at the national military exhibition grounds in Dodoma under tight security.
The ceremony was closed to the public, attended only by government officials, ambassadors, and military officers.
It was broadcast live on the state television, Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC).
Samia, who was declared the winner with 98 percent of the vote, swore in front of Chief Justice George Masaju, promising to protect the constitution and serve all Tanzanians faithfully.
“I, Samia Suluhu Hassan, swear that I will be loyal to the United Republic of Tanzania, and work with all my heart. I will preserve and protect the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania in accordance with the law. God help me,” he said.
After taking the oath, the President inspected the honor of the guards and received a 21-gun salute while military bands played the national anthem.
Source: Getty Images
Was the election in Tanzania free and fair?
In her victory speech, Samia described the election as “free and democratic” and threw it aside protest as the actions of “non-nationals” who aimed to undermine peace.
He urged Tanzanians to focus on unity and development, saying the election has shown the country’s “solid democratic poverty”.
However, international investigators and human rights organizations painted a different picture.
They expressed deep concern about the transparency of the vote and the violence that followed, with reports reporting hundreds of dead and many others injured when security forces clashed with protesters who protested the results.
The nationwide internet blackout, which began on election day, has made it nearly impossible to confirm the scale of the violence or confirm the death toll.
Chadema, the opposition party, claimed to have recorded at least 700 deaths during the post-election clashes, while a diplomatic source cited by the BBC put the death toll at more than 500.
The UN human rights office also confirmed at least 10 deaths in three major cities and called on the government to conduct an independent investigation into the killings.
Despite the anger, the government has continued to downplay the incidents, insisting that Tanzania is still safe and stable.
Did Kithure Kindiki attend Samia’s swearing-in ceremony?
Samia took power for the first time in 2021 following the death of retired President John Magufuli.
Now he faces the task of rebuilding public trust and restoring Tanzania’s image in the world, which has been affected by allegations of political repression and human rights violations.
The Vice President of Kenya, Kithur Kindiki attended the swearing-in ceremony, presenting on behalf of President William Ruto.
Earlier, Ruto had congratulated Samia on his victory and urged Tanzanians to encourage peace, dialogue, and political tolerance.
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