Tanzania Decides: Civils Servants Ordered to Work From Home As Protests Enter Second Day

Tanzania, 30 October 2025 - Police in Tanzania's main city of Dar es Salaam fired shots and tear gas on Thursday to disperse protesters who returned to the streets a day after a general election marred by violent demonstrations.

The U.S. embassy said that some major roads, including the main one leading to Dar es Salaam's international airport, were closed.

Areas of Dar es Salaam and its neighbourhoods most affected by Thursday demonstrations include Mbagala, Gongo la Mboto, and Kiluvya.

On Wednesday as voters went to polling stations to exercise their democratic right, protesters took to the streets of Dar es Salaam and several other cities, infuriated by the exclusion of President Samia Suluhu Hassan's two biggest challengers from the presidential race.

Demonstrators, quoted by various media outlets said they are worried about the future of their nation, that was for decades, an epitome of peace and democracy in Africa.

One protester, in a news prime aired on Kenya's Citizen TV on Wednesday evening, Wednesday complained about concerted effort to silence government critics.

"Our push for reforms will not end today or tomorrow," the agitated young man said on camera.

"We shall demonstrate until we see real change."

Government spokesperson Gerson Msigwa has ordered all civil servants to work from home on Thursday except for those whose duties require them to be present at their workplaces.

The state television channel also announced that students should study from home on Thursday.

Tanzania's main opposition party, Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) had called for protests during the election, which it said amounted to a "coronation" of Hassan.

CHADEMA was disqualified in April 2025 from the election after it refused to sign a code of conduct from the electoral commission.

Its leader Tundu Lissu was charged with treason for rallying Tanzanians behind the bandwagon of "no reforms, no elections".

The commission also disqualified Luhaga Joelson Mpina, the candidate for opposition party ACT-Wazalendo, leaving only minor parties to take on Hassan.

Hassan rose to power following the death of John Pombe Magufuli in 2021, and her soft demeanor had plaudits happy that she would ease repression of political opponents and censorship that had increased under her predecessor.

But fast-track to 2025, critics say all the gains made have since vanished, and despite Hassan's order for an investigation into reports of abductions, no official findings have been made public.

On Wednesday, Deogratias Munishi , who is the International Secretary of CHADEMA , told Citizen TV that Kenyans have been very instrumental championing for pluralism in Tanzania.

"Right now the media in Tanzania has been muzzled, but Kenyans have been vocal across mainstream and social media to call out the Tanzanian government," he said.

He likened the election in his home country as mere coronation ceremony.

"In an election, voters must be presented with choices, but disqualifying main opponents is like a restaurant serving customers food without any alternative menu," he said.

Leading media outlets, The Citizen and Mwananchi, have not updated content on their main digital platforms since Wednesday, Dawan Africa can confirm.

Reported widespread internet outage began mid-morning, coinciding with voting hours. Monitoring group NetBlocks confirmed a “significant disruption” affecting major social media and messaging platforms.

Analysts and rights groups accused the government of attempting to stifle information flow and suppress dissent as tensions rose.

“This digital blackout is not a coincidence,” said a Dar es Salaam-based political observer who requested anonymity.

“It is part of a pattern, control the message, control the narrative, and control the people.”

Reuters reported that demonstrators are leveraging technology to mobilise marches as Zello app lets their smartphones function like a walkie-talkie.

Amnesty International said at least two people died on the day of election as human rights groups called for investigations into the use of force. Casualties could be more.

Tito Magoti, an activist, told Reuters that he received reports that five people died, with a diplomatic officer who declined to be named claiming that 10 people had died in Dar es Salaam alone.

Vote counting is underway as results expected within 72 hours, the electoral commission announced.

Tanzanians went to the ballot to also elect local leaders, Members of Parliament (MPs) in the 400-seat parliament and a president and lawmakers in the semi-autonomous Zanzibar archipelago.