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As per the chief opposition faction, around 700 individuals have purportedly perished during a three-day period of election-related protests in Tanzania.

Violence Breaks Out on Election Day

Protests erupted on election day over what protesters called the stifling of the rival camp after the disqualification of key candidates from the presidential race.

Casualty Figures Stated

An rival representative stated that scores of people had been lost their lives since the demonstrations commenced.

"At present, the number of deaths in the port city is around 350 and for another city it is over 200. Including estimates from elsewhere throughout the country, the final number is nearly 700," he remarked.

He mentioned that the number could be much higher because deaths could be happening during a nighttime restriction that was imposed from Wednesday.

Other Accounts

• A official insider reportedly stated there had been reports of over 500 dead, "maybe 700-800 in the whole country."
• Amnesty International stated it had gathered data that a minimum of 100 people had been killed.
• Rival groups stated their numbers had been gathered by a team of supporters attending medical facilities and medical centers and "counting dead bodies."

Demands for Change

The opposition called for the government to "cease harming our demonstrators" and demanded a caretaker government to pave the way for free and fair elections.

"End violence. Respect the will of the people which is electoral justice," the official declared.

Government Measures

Officials responded by enforcing a restriction. Internet disruption were also observed, with international observers indicating it was countrywide.

On Thursday, the army chief condemned the violence and referred to the demonstrators "lawbreakers". He announced authorities would attempt to control the unrest.

Global Reaction

United Nations human rights office said it was "alarmed" by the fatalities and harm in the demonstrations, mentioning it had gathered reports that a minimum of 10 people had been slain by security forces.

The organization mentioned it had received trustworthy reports of casualties in the port city, in Shinyanga and Morogoro, with officials using gunfire and teargas to break up crowds.

Expert Opinion

A civil rights advocate stated it was "unacceptable" for security agencies to use force, stating that the country's leader "ought to refrain from using the law enforcement against the public."

"The president should pay attention to the people. The feeling of the nation is that there was no fair vote … The people cannot choose a single contender," the lawyer commented.