Election protesters defy the Army Chiety on the third day of the Tanzania Uration

Protesters have taken to the streets in Tanzania for the third time, defying warnings from the country’s head of state to end the unrest.

Demonstrations have been taking place in major cities with young protesters calling Wednesday’s election unfair as key opposition figures were voted out of the race for President Samia Sudu Hassan.

Internet shutdowns remain in place, making it difficult to verify reports of deaths, and authorities have extended curfews in a bid to quell the protests.

The UN has called on the East African nation’s security forces to refrain from using unnecessary or disproportionate forces.

“We are appalled by the death and injuries in the ongoing election protests in Tanzania. Reports we have received indicate that at least 10 people have been killed,” human rights spokesperson Seif Magango was quoted as saying.

Amnesty International in Kenya told the BBC that through communications on the ground in neighboring Tanzania the rights group could not confirm the death reports.

Hospitals in the country refuse to provide information to journalists or human rights groups when asked about the cause.

The government wanted to play down the scale of violence.

The Electoral Commission announced the results from about 80 regions of the country’s 100 regions, the state broadcaster, TBC, shows.

President Samia is expected to get a vote under the ruling Chama MapInduzi (CCM) party, which has ruled the country since independence in 1961.

Official results are expected on Saturday.

The main cleric of Tanzania – the main cleric of Tanzania – Sheikh Abubakar Zubeir Bin Ally – called on Muslims to perform Friday prayers at home in fear of rising violence.

On Thursday, army chief Jacob Jacob Mkunda ordered protesters off the streets, saying the army would work with other security agencies to contain the situation.

“Some people went to the streets on October 29 and committed criminal acts. These criminals and criminal acts must be stopped immediately,” said the army TV, adding that the army “controlled the situation”.

But the protesters were also taken to the commercial streets of Dar es Salaam.

In Tanzania’s Zanzibar Archipelago of Zanzibar – which formed its own Government and its Leader – CCM’s Hussein MWININEI, who is a radical president, won almost 80% of the votes.

The opposition in Zanzibar said there was a “massive deception”, AP News Agency reported.

Tourists in the Archipelago are also reported to have been dragged to the airport, due to flight delays due to the protests, which have been widespread.

The protesters accused the Government of undermining democracy, as the main opposition leader is in prison and the rest of the opposition was eligible for the election, strengthening Samia’s chances of winning.

Tundu Lissu, the main opposition leader, is in prison for treason, which he denied, and his party voted for this vote.

The only other serious opposition, Luhaga Mpina of the ACT-WAZalendo Party, qualified for the official position.

Fourteen fringe parties, none of which has significant public support, were cleared to contest the elections.

Samia took office in 2021 as Tanzania’s first female President following the death of President John Magufulu.

He was initially praised for easing political pressure, but political space has since waned, with his government accused of targeting critics with arrests and detentions.

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