As Tanzanians headed to the polls in last month's general election, Tanzania was already polarized, with voters split between casting ballots and backing opposition party Chadema's "No Reform, No Election." 

But no one foresaw the three days of chaos that broke out in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's biggest city and commercial capital, and several other cities. 

For the first time in modern-day mainland Tanzania, violent protests erupted against the exclusion of the main opposition candidates — and quickly turned deadly.

Chadema, which was barred from running in the election, accused Tanzanian security forces of excessive violence and of killing demonstrators during the protests that followed the October 29 vote.

"Many of them have been shot in the head," Chadama's secretary, Deogratias Munishi, told the dpa news agency.

Chadema and some human rights activists claim security forces killed more than 1,000 people. The government said that figure was exaggerated, but it has not released any official death toll.

The UN human rights office said it believes hundreds of people were killed. 

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Friday announced an inquiry into the killings, reported the AFP news agency. The move followed calls for an independent investigation from activists and UN human rights chief Volker Türk.

"I offer my condolences to all the families who lost their loved ones," Hassan told parliament. "The government has taken the step of forming an inquiry commission to investigate what happened." 

Where does Tanzania go from here?

Hassan on Friday called for leniency for the protesters who were charged with treason — which could carry the death penalty. 

"I realise that many youths who were arrested and charged with treason did not know what they were doing," Hassan said. 
  

Even though the situation remains fragile, some analysts believe there is room for progress.

"For the first time in our country's history, the 2025 election has been truly dramatic, marked by deep mistrust between citizens and their government," said political analyst Novatus Igosha.

He argues that Tanzania must restore impartiality in key institutions, starting with the courts.

"People need to trust that if they go to court, they will get a fair hearing and a fair judgment."

The same, he says, applies to the police: "People should believe that if they are arrested, they will be treated with dignity, fairly and with respect."

According to Igosha, the country now needs "a new political commitment" between the ruling party and the opposition, built on genuine processes.

He adds that Tanzania must "depoliticize the judicial system, professionalize the electoral system, and guarantee civic freedoms." 

Political analyst Paternus Niyegira says the first step is to change the narrative around the general elections.

"The government should stop framing what happened as a criminal act," Niyegira told DW. "It must come out clearly and accept that excessive force was used and that many people died."

He believes acknowledgment is key to national healing.

"The government needs language that brings people together so citizens feel connected to their leaders. This idea that protesters were criminals or foreigners should be put to rest," he said

"The president promised a truth and reconciliation committee this is the right time. But you can't have reconciliation without accepting what has transpired."

Roadmap to national reconciliation

International human rights lawyer and activist Tito Magoti says Tanzania's problems stem from long-standing issues with electoral governance.

"Since the reintroduction of multiparty politics in 1995, it has always been contentious whether we have had free and fair elections," he said. "This raises the question of an independent electoral body which we still do not have."

He argues that the recent violence reflects deeper systemic failures.

"This political massacre happened because of our failed governance system. We need a new Constitution that safeguards individual rights and ensures the independence of institutions of justice," he said.

"Who goes to court believing they will get justice in Tanzania, especially in cases involving the government?"

Senior journalist Amini Mgheni adds that Tanzania must return to dialogue.

"Tanzania must go back to its roots of solving conflicts through dialogue and reconciliation," Mgheni told DW, noting that history shows that society becomes better after such dialogue.

He suggested that "after national dialogue, we we must build a society rooted in mutual respect."

"Leaders must respect the people they lead and vice versa, and the government shows respect by upholding justice, fairness, and good governance."

Edited by: Keith Walker