President Samia Suluhu Hassan has again defended how security agencies handled the violent scenes that broke out after Tanzania’s October 29 general election, saying officers had to respond firmly to protect the country.
She said the situation at the time demanded action and the government could not allow events to spiral out of control.
Speaking during an event in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, Suluhu pushed back against claims of excessive force, saying the decisions taken by police were based on the behaviour of some of the protesters. She argued that the officers acted within what was needed to stop groups she said were attempting to cause instability.
“When we are told that excessive force was used… were we supposed to simply watch demonstrators attempting to overthrow the government?” she said. Her remarks were aimed at critics who have questioned the level of force used during the three days of unrest.
Suluhu said that some individuals used the protests to break into police stations and attack businesses, actions she said could not be ignored.
“By invading a police station, what are you looking for? It is to take weapons, and once they have them, what happens?” she asked. She said such actions showed the protests had moved beyond genuine political expression.
She also said Tanzania observed how other countries in the region handled similar situations and used those events as lessons while preparing the response.
Reports from human rights groups and opposition figures claim more than 1,000 people died in the clashes, but the government has not confirmed the number. Organisers of the demonstrations have called for another round of protests on December 9.
Suluhu also addressed the recent decision by the European Union to halt aid to Tanzania following the reports of killings, saying the move reflected an outdated mindset. “They still think they are our masters; they are our former colonisers,” she said.
Turning to the election results, Suluhu stood by her 97 per cent win and said it represented the choices made by those who voted, not the total population. She said the high margin was partly the result of key opposition figures pulling out of the race before election day.
“Those who would have challenged Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) were not on the ballot,” she said. She added that each candidate made their own decision on whether to stay in the race and insisted no one had been stopped from participating.
Suluhu said the absence of major opposition parties, including Chadema, meant many of their supporters shifted their votes to CCM, which she said helped shape the final outcome. She maintained that the result reflected the strength of her party and the work it had done throughout the campaign.
Her comments add to the ongoing national debate, with many people still discussing the scale of her victory on social media and in public forums.
