Tanzanian Families Demand Answers as Second Election Violence Inquiry Begins

One year after the violent crackdown following Tanzania's general election, families of the dead remain without formal answers. In Mwanza, the country's second-largest city, Raha, whose name has been changed for safety, said her nephew was killed during the protests. She stated that the government should have offered condolences or asked for forgiveness, but the family is still waiting for an explanation regarding his death.

The unrest began after the main opposition candidate, Tundu Lissu of the Chadema party, was arrested in April 2025 and charged with treason. His party was barred from the race, leading to protests on election day and in the days that followed. Demonstrators demanded political reforms and the resignation of President Samia Suluhu Hassan. A government-appointed commission chaired by retired Chief Justice Mohamed Chande Othman later determined that at least 518 people died from unnatural causes, with many sustaining gunshot wounds. More than 2,000 others were injured.

Othman noted that the death toll could be higher because some families buried their relatives without reporting the bodies to the commission or morgues. Oryem Nyeko, senior Africa researcher for Human Rights Watch, agreed that the actual number of killed is likely higher than the 518 presented by the commission. Recent analysis of video footage and a leaked police report suggests that police likely acted beyond their training and guidelines. The evidence shows cases where non-protesters were killed, including young men in Mwanza who were shot while watching television in a video hall.

The police Field Force Unit, identifiable by red berets and riot gear, appeared repeatedly in the reviewed material. The Centre for Information Resilience also documented incidents in Dar es Salaam where uniformed officers beat civilians. Despite guidelines restricting firearms to necessary circumstances, investigations documented head wounds and shots fired at people fleeing or outside during a curfew. Security analyst Nicodemus Minde said the commission failed to identify who was responsible for the orders or why the force was used.

The Tanzanian Ministry of Home Affairs declined to comment on allegations of excessive force, stating it would interfere with the legal process. The police force had not responded to requests for comment by the time of publication. President Hassan described the unrest as an attempt to overthrow the government, while the Chande Commission recommended further investigation without naming specific officers or security bodies.

A second inquiry chaired by retired Justice Shaban Ally Lila began gathering evidence in August 2026. Its findings are still pending. For families like that of Zuri, whose brother and son were both killed, the process has not yet restored trust. Zuri questioned why the government has not visited affected households, stating that the state behaves as if nothing happened and that there is currently no justice in Tanzania.