Judul : If Thousands of Tanzanians Died, Silence Is Not an Option
link : If Thousands of Tanzanians Died, Silence Is Not an Option
If Thousands of Tanzanians Died, Silence Is Not an Option
These are not minor figures. They are not "disturbances." If accurate, these numbers represent a large-scale political massacre. Still, where is the public reaction?
Tallying the casualties following Tanzania's most violent election is a challenging endeavor. The demonstrations were not limited to a single city or area; they erupted throughout the nation — from the harbor streets of Dar es Salaam to the lakeside areas of Mwanza; from Mbeya in the highlands to Arusha at the base of Mount Meru. The violence was rapid, well-organized, and, as reported by eyewitnesses, clearly intentional.
Very few foreign journalists were on hand. International election monitors had either been restricted or hadn't received invitations to begin with. Medical professionals and nurses claim that security forces took bodies from public streets before sunrise, placed them on military trucks, and transported them to undisclosed locations. Lawyers and religious leaders state that entire neighborhoods now only speak in hushed tones about mass graves. Regular citizens are aware of the reality, but fear acts as a more complete silence than any legal restriction.
Nevertheless, despite these circumstances, a general idea of the impact is becoming clear. Although these figures are preliminary, medical associations and legal human rights organizations state that they have been able to verify at least 3,500 deaths by directly accessing morgues, burial records, and hospital documents. In Dar es Salaam alone, doctors recorded 800 bodies. Families and community networks report an additional 6,500 missing—sons, daughters, husbands, students, vendors, teachers—who were last seen being taken by police or intelligence units during the protests.
However, the magnitude of the killing is not the sole horror. What is more alarming is the evident intention behind it. Testimonies from witnesses indicate that security forces were not attempting to break up demonstrations — they were aiming to deliver a message. A message of fear. A warning against ever again opposing the 63-year reign of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), one of the longest continuous political monopolies globally.
These are not minor figures. They are not "disturbances." If accurate, these numbers indicate a large-scale political massacre.
Still, where is the public reaction?
Where is the gravity commensurate with the magnitude of the offense?
Rather, we are observing one of the most unsettling quiet moments in African public life in recent times.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan—who was declared the winner with an extremely high 97 percent of the votes—claims that the death toll numbers are false. She attributes the incidents to "foreign agitators," "paid activists," and the opposition, accusing them of faking their own deaths.
This is not a believable justification.
When the government is unable to rationalize aggression, it rejects the physical forms of individuals.
Yet the magnitude of the killings is not the sole horror. What is more alarming is the evident intention behind them. Testimonies from witnesses indicate that security forces were not aiming to break up demonstrations — they were seeking to deliver a message. A message of terror. A caution against ever again opposing the 63-year reign of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), one of the longest continuous political dominances globally.
If the opposition is overstating things, or if these figures are incorrect, there is a simple answer: an independent global inquiry. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has already urged for such an investigation. This call has also been echoed by Tanzanian human rights attorneys, religious figures, and the relatives of those who have disappeared.
If the opposition is overstating things, or if these figures are incorrect, there is a simple answer: an independent global inquiry. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has already urged for such an investigation. So have Tanzanian human rights attorneys, religious figures, and the relatives of those who have disappeared.
However, this appeal has not been backed by any significant influence from the key diplomatic figures.
China has poured significant resources into Tanzania over many years. Tanzania stands as one of the CCP's key locations for spreading its ideological influence. The party-to-party training institutions in Bagamoyo and Dar es Salaam focus on imparting the values of centralized authority and "political discipline."
The United States has a distinct interest. It is looking at Tanzania's nickel, cobalt, graphite, and rare earths — materials crucial for the energy shift — and no longer focuses on democracy, leadership, or human rights in Africa. The US will not risk its strategic resource goals unless compelled to do so.
The United Arab Emirates has become significantly involved in Tanzanian logistics, air transport, and energy contracts. It is not recognized for taking action against government oppression when there are commercial benefits involved.
And South Africa, which appropriately brought Israel before the International Court of Justice regarding the killing of civilians in Gaza, has remained silent so far. Tanzania served as the ANC's refuge and base during the struggle for liberation. That history has led to an emotional stalemate.
The outcome is a political void.
If thousands of Tanzanians have perished, then this is not merely a disputed election. It constitutes a crime against humanity, as outlined in the African Charter, the UN Human Rights Covenant, and the Rome Statute.
This has nothing to do with external meddling.
This pertains to responsibility in Africa.
- The African Union's Peace and Security Council has the power to request a Commission of Inquiry.
- The SADC is tasked with preventing instability within the region.
- The East African Community cannot overlook the decline of public confidence within its second-largest member state.
- African civil society, such as religious institutions and professional groups, should not permit this violence to become accepted as routine.
Tanzania has not always been this way. This is not the heritage of the nation's first leader, Julius Nyerere.
Nyerere thought that political power demanded ethical self-control. He saw governance as a responsibility, not a right. He felt that unity was established through persuasion, not intimidation. He considered leadership to be about serving, not ruling.
It is impossible to envision Nyerere rejoicing over a triumph achieved through bloodshed on the streets.
If such violence remains unchecked, it will never cease. Tanzanians have demonstrated a refusal to be silenced, and now they can only be controlled.
Tanzania stands among Africa's most stunning nations — a region characterized by open savannahs and peaks, coral islands and modest farms, animals and melodies, and traditions that have blended over many years. It has been a location where differing political views could be expressed without leading to conflict.
That is what is currently in danger.
If such violence remains unchecked, it will never cease. Tanzanians have demonstrated a refusal to be silenced, and now they can only be controlled.
The sole way to escape this political dead end is to initiate a sincere conversation with the representatives of all Tanzanians — including Tundu Lissu, the head of the opposition Chadema party, who has been imprisoned for seven months and accused of treason for advocating changes in the electoral system.
If he and other voices within the political opposition, civil society, and the religious community had been heard, this disaster might have been prevented.
Therefore, to clarify: If there are mass graves, they need to be uncovered. Keeping quiet is not a possibility.
Phillip van Niekerkis the managing partner at Calabar Consulting, a risk advisory firm focused on Africa.
Copyright 2025 Premium Times. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (okay1).
Tagged: Tanzania, Governance, East Africa
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).Thus the article If Thousands of Tanzanians Died, Silence Is Not an Option
You are now reading the article If Thousands of Tanzanians Died, Silence Is Not an Option with the link addresshttps://www.angkaraja.cfd/2025/11/if-thousands-of-tanzanians-died-silence.html
0 Response to "If Thousands of Tanzanians Died, Silence Is Not an Option"
Post a Comment