Opposition candidates k!lled in Tanzania local election

Tanzanian opposition party Chadema has alleged foul play in the ongoing local elections, reporting that three of its members were k!lled in incidents linked to the vote. The party has accused authorities of orchestrating violence and election rigging to benefit the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party.

Chadema chairman Freeman Mbowe announced on X that Modestus Timbisimilwa, one of the party’s candidates, was fatally shot by police in Dar es Salaam while trying to prevent “fake and invalid ballots” from being delivered to a polling station. Another candidate, George Juma Mohamed, was killed at his home in Mkese, central Tanzania, during what police described as a clash between Chadema and CCM supporters. Police said prison officers called to the scene fired warning shots, which led to Mohamed’s death.

A third party member, Steven Chalamila, was killed in a machete attack at his home in Tunduma, near the Zambian border, late Tuesday, according to Chadema.

“The nation has once again witnessed blatant and shameful misconduct from all levels of the government authorities, colluding to secure disgraceful victories for the CCM and its candidates, even at the cost of Tanzanian lives,” Mbowe wrote on X.

Reports of violence and arrests have surfaced across the country. In Kigoma, an AFP journalist witnessed voters clashing over alleged fake ballots, leading to arrests. Chadema claims its candidates and supporters have faced beatings and intimidation in their attempts to prevent electoral fraud.

“We believe these acts are being carried out with the directives and full blessings of (President Samia Suluhu Hassan) and her government,” Mbowe added.

The elections are being held to select over 80,000 local leaders who wield significant influence in Tanzania’s political landscape. These local leaders play a crucial role in campaigns leading up to next October’s presidential election.

John Mrema, Chadema’s director of communication and foreign affairs, highlighted the stakes of the election, stating, “We are electing local leaders who are also important campaigners during the general election.”

While President Hassan initially gained praise for loosening restrictions imposed by her authoritarian predecessor, John Magufuli, rights groups and Western governments have expressed concerns over what they see as renewed repression ahead of the vote. Opposition figures have faced frequent arrests, abductions, and even murder, Chadema claims.

The 2019 local elections saw Chadema boycott the polls, citing violence and intimidation, allowing a clean sweep for the CCM. This year’s incidents have raised questions about the state of democracy in Tanzania, a nation of 67 million people.