Tanzania’s government is facing escalating international and domestic concern over lethal violence during and after last week’s election, as the nation’s main opposition party leveled a grave new accusation on Tuesday: that security forces are secretly disposing of the bodies of hundreds of citizens killed in a post-election crackdown.
The opposition CHADMA party issued a direct challenge to the authorities, demanding they take responsibility for the alleged killings and for the disputed electoral process that returned President Samia Suluhu Hassan to power with a reported 97 percent of the vote.
A spokesperson for CHADMA declared that the party and the Tanzanian public do not recognize Samia Suluhu Hassan as their legitimate leader, stating the country is now in a “vacuum.” The spokesperson outlined non-negotiable conditions for any future political dialogue, centered on comprehensive reforms and a new, fair election.
“We want to see… those who shot Tanzanians for the past six days… being held accountable, and that is by the ICC and by the UN,” the CHADMA spokesperson stated, calling for international justice. The spokesperson firmly ruled out any political relationship with the ruling party in the absence of these measures, adding, “If also they want to negotiate, it is a fresh election that you provide an opportunity for Tanzanians to elect the leaders they want.”
The allegations and demands mark a significant escalation in Tanzania’s political crisis. The reported violence and the opposition’s stark accusations of hidden bodies have shocked observers across the region, casting a shadow over President Hassan’s landslide victory, which was described as a rare electoral margin for the area.
The government has yet to issue an official response to the specific allegations of secret body dumping made by the CHADMA party.
