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As per the main rival group, roughly 700 people have supposedly lost their lives during a three-day period of voting protests in Tanzania.

Violence Erupts on Voting Day

Demonstrations broke out on election day over claims that activists labeled the suppression of the opposition after the removal of prominent candidates from the election contest.

Casualty Estimates Stated

A rival spokesperson announced that scores of civilians had been killed since the unrest started.

"At present, the number of deaths in the port city is about 350 and for another city it is more than 200. Added to estimates from other regions around the nation, the total number is around 700," the spokesperson said.

He noted that the death count could be much higher because killings may be taking place during a nighttime lockdown that was enforced from Wednesday.

Further Estimates

• A official source supposedly mentioned there had been accounts of exceeding 500 deaths, "possibly 700-800 in the entire nation."
• Amnesty International stated it had gathered reports that at least 100 individuals had been lost their lives.
• The opposition asserted their figures had been collected by a network of party members visiting hospitals and medical centers and "counting fatalities."

Calls for Change

The opposition demanded the government to "cease targeting our protesters" and demanded a interim administration to facilitate just and transparent elections.

"Stop police brutality. Respect the choice of the public which is fair elections," the spokesperson declared.

Authorities Reaction

The government responded by imposing a curfew. Online restrictions were also reported, with global watchdogs reporting it was nationwide.

The following day, the army chief denounced the unrest and labeled the demonstrators "offenders". He said security forces would try to control the unrest.

International Reaction

United Nations human rights office said it was "alarmed" by the fatalities and harm in the unrest, mentioning it had obtained information that a minimum of 10 civilians had been killed by authorities.

The organization reported it had received credible accounts of fatalities in Dar es Salaam, in a northwestern region and Morogoro, with security forces discharging real bullets and teargas to scatter protesters.

Legal View

A human rights attorney remarked it was "unacceptable" for authorities to resort to arms, noting that the nation's leader "should cease using the police against the public."

"She must heed the citizens. The sentiment of the nation is that there was no fair vote … We are unable to choose a single contender," the advocate said.