Tanzania’s Foreign Affairs Minister Thabit Kombo has defended the government’s decision to impose an internet shutdown following post-election protests, citing vandalism and public safety concerns.

Speaking during a BBC interview on October 31, 2025, Kombo justified the measure as necessary to curb vandalism orchestrated through online platforms.

“Because the internet, when we tried to open it also, created havoc among small groups of vandalists who are creating problems in the vandalism. So their main communication medium was the internet,” he explained.

He expressed optimism about restoration, saying, “Hopefully. We are all looking forward to the internet being back, at least by tomorrow.”

Kombo assured that election observers were not affected by the shutdown.

“We provided all the observers with alternative methods of communication in the country. So the communication with the observers is going on,” he said.

“And they are going also to stipulate in the state that clearly in their report that they are communicating and there were alternatives which were given for communication to flow and information exchange,” he noted.

He also dismissed mounting criticism from the opposition Chama Cha Demokrasia na Mapinduzi (CHADEMA) party, which claimed over 700 deaths in the unrest.

Casualty figures unverified

Kombo dismissed the casualty figures as premature and unverified. “At the moment, nobody can state how many were injured, how many suffered, or how many properties were burned. We are also continuing to receive also reports of the vandalized properties, private properties, including several regions of Tanzania. We are collecting that information,” he said.

He detailed specific damages, noting, “Some of the border posts, some of the Tanzanian revenue authorities, some of the police posts, some of the public properties, public cars, and some of Tanesco, which is our electricity supply company, cars were burnt.”

The minister emphasised that comprehensive data was still being compiled. “We are continuing to receive those reports. Currently, nobody can compile all those numbers and say anything until all the data and figures are in place. Well, at the moment, I’m reading as you are reading, but let’s wait for the right authorised information to be out,” he stated.

Calm as nation awaits results

On the election process, Kombo reaffirmed its integrity. “Whenever elections are held, the call or the aim is to have them dubbed as free and fair,” he said, adding, “No major candidate was excluded. The candidate who excluded themselves did so by not signing the code of conduct for participating in the election, and this is as per the law. I, as a minister, also had to sign that code of conduct. It’s called form ya madili. Yes. On Saturday, it will happen.”

He described Dar es Salaam as calm, with restrictions limited to curfew hours. “Dar es Salaam is very, very peaceful. I’ve been around a lot today. The restrictions are from 6 p.m. in the evening to 6 a.m. in the morning, and that restriction is that you have to have a reason when you go out in order to maintain the peace in the country. But during the day, everybody is free to continue with their own work,” Kombo concluded.

The National Electoral Commission is scheduled to announce results on November 1, 2025, as protests enter their third day.