Tanzania’s opposition party Chadema declares week of mourning after deadly protests

Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), has announced that all its flags will be flown at half-mast for seven days, in honour of citizens who lost their lives during last month’s violent demonstrations that followed the disputed general election.

In a statement released on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, the party said the symbolic gesture will run from November 5 to November 11 as a national mourning period for what it described as innocent Tanzanians killed while demanding justice and democracy.

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The party said it was standing in solidarity with the victims’ families and reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing electoral justice despite what it called a climate of intimidation.

“The party flags will fly at half-mast from today, November 5, 2025, until November 11, 2025, to mourn the deaths of citizens who were killed during the protests in October this year,” the statement read.

The development comes just days after Chadema rejected the official results of the October 29, 2025, election, in which President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner with an overwhelming 98 per cent of the vote.

Chadema, in a statement on Saturday, November 1, 2025, dismissed the outcome as fraudulent, claiming that no genuine election took place and that the process was marred by widespread irregularities and suppression of opposition participation.

According to Chadema Secretary General John Mnyika, the party maintains that the National Electoral Commission’s figures were fabricated to serve the interests of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).

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He stated that citizens were denied their democratic rights through a process that was neither free nor fair, adding that the environment leading up to the vote was heavily tilted in favour of the incumbent administration.

“These results have no basis in reality, as the truth is that no genuine election took place in Tanzania. Citizens did not participate in the October 29 election due to an environment that was neither free nor fair, and because of the absence of a levelled political playing field,” Mnyika’s statement read in part.

Mnyika said the party’s earlier warnings under the slogan “No Reforms, No Election” had been ignored, leaving the country without the necessary political and electoral frameworks to guarantee a credible process.

“Furthermore, Chadema emphasises that the Electoral Commission has released figures that are completely fabricated-merely reflecting the malicious intent of Samia Suluhu Hassan and her party to rig the election, an act which they have succeeded,” Chadema retorted.

Chadema leaders, including its top presidential hopeful Tundu Lissu, were barred from participating in the election, a move the party described as part of a broader effort to silence dissenting voices.

In her victory speech, President Samia maintained that the poll was free, fair, and democratic, and called on Tanzanians to focus on unity and national development.

However, Chadema vowed not to recognise her presidency, arguing that she lacks the legitimacy derived from the people’s will.

“Chadema does not recognise Samia Suluhu Hassan as the President of the United Republic of Tanzania,” the statement said, adding that the party would appeal to the international community not to acknowledge her government.

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