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According to the main rival party, around 700 individuals have reportedly died during three days of voting demonstrations in Tanzania.

Violence Starts on Voting Day

Protests broke out on Wednesday over claims that demonstrators labeled the silencing of the rival camp after the removal of prominent contenders from the election contest.

Casualty Figures Stated

An opposition official announced that hundreds of civilians had been killed since the unrest commenced.

"Currently, the fatality count in Dar es Salaam is approximately 350 and for another city it is more than 200. Added to numbers from other places throughout the country, the final figure is around 700," the official stated.

He added that the toll could be significantly greater because fatalities could be happening during a night-time curfew that was implemented from Wednesday.

Further Reports

• A security source supposedly stated there had been accounts of more than 500 deaths, "maybe 700-800 in the entire nation."
• The human rights organization stated it had gathered reports that a minimum of 100 people had been lost their lives.
• The opposition claimed their figures had been compiled by a network of activists going to medical facilities and health centers and "documenting fatalities."

Calls for Action

Rival officials demanded the authorities to "halt killing our demonstrators" and demanded a transitional government to facilitate democratic votes.

"Stop excessive force. Honor the will of the people which is fair elections," the spokesperson declared.

Authorities Reaction

Authorities responded by imposing a lockdown. Online restrictions were also reported, with global monitors indicating it was countrywide.

The following day, the military leader denounced the violence and referred to the protesters "offenders". The official announced law enforcement would attempt to manage the unrest.

International Concern

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said it was "alarmed" by the fatalities and harm in the protests, mentioning it had obtained reports that a minimum of 10 people had been lost their lives by law enforcement.

The office reported it had collected trustworthy information of deaths in Dar es Salaam, in a northwestern region and Morogoro, with law enforcement firing real bullets and teargas to scatter demonstrators.

Expert Perspective

An human rights attorney stated it was "unreasonable" for law enforcement to employ violence, noting that the nation's president "ought to refrain from deploying the police against the people."

"She needs to heed the people. The feeling of the country is that there was no election … We are unable to choose only one option," the advocate said.