Tanzania Election Violence Claims Unintended Victims

Around 8:30 p.m. on October 31, police appeared in the Mjimwema neighborhood of the Tanzanian city of Mwanza, where residents were running errands and drinking coffee. Without warning, they opened fire, triggering panic.

The incident in Mwanza is one of the deadliest known incidents from days of violence around Tanzania’s October 29 elections, and part of a broader pattern of alleged abuses by security forces.

Mwanza Shooting

Witnesses and video footage indicate that at least 13 people were killed in a shooting at a cafe in Mwanza. Police ordered men sheltering in the cafe to lie on the ground before shooting them. A video posted on social media and verified by Reuters shows 13 bodies on the ground. Witnesses reported over 15 bodies at the scene, and hospital records confirm multiple deaths.

Widespread Allegations of Abuse

Reuters interviewed nine witnesses from Mwanza, Dar es Salaam, and Arusha who reported seeing officers shoot civilians far from any protests. These incidents occurred amidst a surge of arrests and alleged abductions of government critics, driven by the exclusion of leading opposition candidates from the elections. The violence represents the worst political unrest in Tanzania’s post-independence history.

U.N. and U.S. Concerns

The U.N. human rights office estimates hundreds were killed, and the U.S. government is reviewing its relationship with Tanzania, partly due to concerns about the violence. Demonstrations echoed similar protests in Kenya, Madagascar, and Nepal, which have led to reforms or government changes.

Government Response

Charles Kitima, secretary-general of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference, stated that police deliberately targeted civilians. Palamagamba Kabudi, a senior Tanzanian official, said the government takes concerns about the use of force seriously and has created a commission of inquiry to investigate election violence. However, he said many allegations were based on unverified information.

Election Context

President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner of the presidential election with nearly 98% of the vote. She has defended the security response as a reasonable reaction to violence by protesters. Following the election, authorities cut internet access across Tanzania for over five days. Police threatened legal action against anyone sharing images that could cause panic.

Extrajudicial Killings

Independent human rights experts appointed by the U.N. Human Rights Council reported “disturbing reports” indicating security personnel were given “shoot to kill” orders. The U.N. experts estimated at least 700 extrajudicial killings, though Kabudi denied such a policy existed and stated that a definitive death toll is premature.

Witness Accounts of Killings Away From Protests

Witnesses described police shooting civilians not involved in demonstrations, sometimes kilometers away from any known protests. In many cases, the witnesses did not know why the police acted as they did. Police announced a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Dar es Salaam, but there was no evidence of a similar order in Mwanza.

The Mjimwema Cafe Incident

Residents of Mjimwema reported that police ordered people to go home around 6 p.m. on October 31. After some ignored the order, police arrived and opened fire on patrons of a nearby cafe. Witnesses described a chaotic scene with over 15 dead and wounded. Police then loaded the bodies into a vehicle and drove away. Raphael Esau Magige and his nephew Johnson Patrick Deus, both identified as victims, were buried on November 4. Juma Shaban Joseph, another victim, has not been found.

Missing Bodies and Government Denial

The U.N. Human Rights Office cited reports of security forces taking bodies to undisclosed locations. Kabudi denied a policy of concealing bodies or evidence. The cafe in Mjimwema has been dismantled, though the reason for its removal remains unclear.