Tanzania warns global media against unverified election reporting
By Kenneth Mwenda, November 3, 2025Tanzania’s government has urged international media outlets to confirm information with official sources before reporting on the country’s recent election and post-poll unrest.
In a press release dated November 1 and posted on X on November 3, 2025, Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo said the October 29, 2025, general election was conducted “with utmost transparency and adherence to democratic principles,” with citizens voting peacefully. President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner with 97.66 per cent of the vote.
Kombo defended the electoral process, noting that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) invited national, regional, and international observers, including the African Union, SADC, the East African Community, and the European Union. He highlighted reforms that strengthened the process, including the establishment of INEC and reviews of electoral legal frameworks.
Also watch: Amnesty International sounds alarm over escalating repression in Tanzania.
“In an unfortunate development at the end of the voting process, isolated breaches of law and order occurred in some parts of the country. To maintain order, our security agencies acted swiftly, professionally, and decisively to ensure these incidents did not disrupt the broader electoral process,” Kombo said, addressing reports of unrest
He added that the government remains committed to peace and stability and urged the media to seek clarity and confirmation from official channels, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, before publishing information about the elections.
However, his comments came as reports from the ground painted a very different picture.
Security tight in Dodoma
President Samia took the oath of office in Dodoma under heavy security. The ceremony, usually attended by the public, was closed off and only broadcast on state television. She thanked election officials for what she called efficient work and expressed regret over violence, calling it a stain on the nation’s image.
Opposition groups and rights organisations have rejected the official results, calling the election neither free nor fair. Key opposition figures were barred from running or arrested before polling day, and observers noted empty polling stations despite authorities reporting an 87 per cent turnout.
International observers raised concerns, with SADC saying voters in many areas were unable to freely express their will. Reports from activists and diplomatic sources suggest hundreds of people may have died in clashes, though the full death toll remains unclear after an internet shutdown limited information flow for several days.
Families continue to report missing relatives, and many citizens say they cannot reach loved ones who disappeared during the unrest. Prices of food and fuel have risen sharply, schools remain shut, and public transport is still disrupted in several areas.
Tanzania’s police have blamed foreign nationals for stoking violence.
The government insists security forces acted lawfully to restore order. It says it will not tolerate actions that threaten national stability and is still assessing the extent of property damage.