Violent protests erupted in Dar es Salaam and several other cities on election day, with crowds furious over the imprisonment or banning of President Samia Suluhu Hassan's main challengers, as well as increased repression of government critics in general.
According to the AFP news agency, protesters set fire to a police station and attacked polling stations. In response, they were met with violence and tear gas from police. A source told AFP that unconfirmed reports claimed that more than 30 people had been killed. A Reuters source said at least ten had been killed in Dar es Salaam alone.
Protesters were also fired upon with tear gas and gunfire on Thursday, Reuters reports. The information is difficult to verify, as the internet and other communications are down, according to AFP. On the island of Zanzibar, tourists have been stranded when ferries to the mainland have been cancelled.
Almost all foreign journalists were denied visas to report on Wednesday's election, AFP writes. Local media is tightly controlled by the government.
