Tanzanian authorities have urged citizens to refrain from sharing images and videos online that could “cause panic” or harm individual dignity, following the restoration of internet access after election-related protests.
The warning came via text message shortly before a five-day shutdown was lifted, with police cautioning that offenders would face strict legal consequences.
Opposition party CHADEMA claims to have recorded a high number of deaths during unrest sparked by the disqualification of key opposition figures in last Wednesday’s vote. President Samia Suluhu Hassan, re-elected with 98 percent of the ballot and sworn in on Monday, acknowledged fatalities but dismissed opposition figures as exaggerated, while social media content showing alleged victims remains unverifiable.
By Tuesday, Dar es Salaam was beginning to return to routine activity, with fewer security forces visible after the lifting of an election-day curfew. Authorities emphasised adherence to public order, while President Hassan reiterated her administration’s commitment to human rights amid lingering concerns from opposition groups and civil society. The government’s dual approach of maintaining stability and managing the narrative underscores a delicate moment for Tanzania’s political climate as it seeks to move past the turbulence of the electoral period.