Political analyst Hernan Manyora has outlined urgent steps Tanzania must take to recover from its recent elections, describing the process as deeply flawed.
Speaking to Radio Generation, Manyora said the country must embark on national healing and reconciliation to address the problems that have shaken the nation.
“Is not the way it should be, and we feel very sad, especially given the death. We are hearing the numbers of the people who died, and that is worrying,” he said on Tuesday, stressing the gravity of the situation.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner of the country’s disputed presidential election on November 1, 2025, with nearly 98 percent of the vote, after leading rivals were excluded from the race.
The final result announced by the electoral commission showed Suluhu had won 97.66 percent of the October 29 vote, dominating every constituency.
Suluhu, who took power in 2021 following the sudden death of her predecessor, John Magufuli, appeared at an event in the administrative capital, Dodoma, to receive her winner’s certificate from electoral authorities.
In a speech afterwards, she highlighted that Tanzanians voted overwhelmingly for a female leader and said now the election was over, “it’s time to unite our country and not destroy what we’ve built over more than six decades.” She added: “We will take all actions and involve all security agencies to ensure the country is peaceful.”
However, the spokesman for the main opposition party, Chadema, which was barred from taking part in the election, slammed Suluhu’s victory as a “mockery of the democratic process.”
“We are calling for the intervention by a credible body to oversee another fresh election,” John Kitoka said.
The election for president and parliament triggered days of violent protests, as demonstrators took to the streets of major cities to oppose the exclusion of Suluhu’s main rivals and what they described as widespread repression.
Despite a heavy security presence, election day descended into chaos, with some demonstrators tearing down banners of Suluhu and setting fire to government buildings, while police fired tear gas and gunshots.
Internet connectivity watchdog NetBlocks reported that access to social media and mobile internet was restricted across several cities during and after the vote.
In addition, Manyora called for tangible reforms, starting with the release of prisoners of conscience and opposition figures detained during the election period.
“Those in jail must have been moved, prisoners of conscience, the boys and girls who have filled the jails must be removed, released immediately.
“Tundu Lissu must be freed without conditions, and they must begin building their country,” he said.
He also recommended drafting a new constitution to restore confidence in Tanzania’s governance.
Manyora argued that accepting past mistakes and creating a clear path forward is essential for the country’s stability.
“You cannot then ban the country because of a mistake of an individual, which has been an event, a sad chapter in the history of Tanzania, but they can move on. They can pick the pieces and move on,” Manyora added, warning that failure to pursue reforms could prevent the government from completing its five-year term.
