President-elect Samia Suluhu Hassan is set for a fast-tracked inauguration on Saturday evening, following a highly contested election that awarded her an overwhelming 98 percent of the total votes.
According to official results, Suluhu secured 31,913,866 votes in the presidential poll, cementing her position as the dominant political figure in the country.
However, her landslide victory has been clouded by controversy after several major opposition leaders were jailed or disqualified ahead of the elections.
This systematic exclusion of key rivals has become the main trigger for the violent protests that have erupted across Tanzania since the vote.
The October 29, 2025, general election has since plunged major urban centres into turmoil, with demonstrators clashing with police and security forces.
Protesters have accused the government of undermining democracy and silencing dissent through intimidation and arrests.
In response, authorities have imposed strict measures aimed at regaining control and restoring public order.
Heavy military deployment has been reported in several cities, accompanied by dusk-to-dawn curfews restricting movement.
Additionally, the government has enforced a nationwide internet and communications blackout, making it difficult for independent observers to verify events on the ground.
Amid the escalating unrest, the government has confirmed that President Suluhu’s swearing-in will take place sooner than initially planned.
A statement from official sources reiterated the 98 percent victory margin and acknowledged the exclusion of opposition figures as a cause of the ongoing demonstrations.
Analysts say the rushed inauguration signals the government’s desire to project stability — but it may also deepen public mistrust in an already volatile political atmosphere.
By Nairobi