Kenyan lawmaker Babu Owino has urged Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu to engage in self-reflection following the controversial general elections that have sparked widespread protests and unrest across Tanzania.
In a statement released on Saturday, November 1, Owino condemned the imposition of curfews and internet blackouts during the election period, saying such measures only deepen public frustration.
“We must look across the continent and learn from nations that took their democracy for granted, only to find themselves under military dictatorship or authoritarian rule,” Owino warned.
He expressed concern that Tanzania risks sliding into authoritarianism if urgent steps are not taken to restore public confidence in its democratic systems.
According to Owino, the reported post-election violence, deaths, and restrictions imposed on citizens are signs of democratic erosion. “This is not the Tanzania we know. Reports of deaths counted in the hundreds, curfews, and internet blackouts have no place in the modern world,” he added.
The Embakasi East MP cautioned President Suluhu against viewing leadership as a personal entitlement, emphasizing that political power should always serve the people.
“Leadership is not a birthright. No one is born to rule. There is no honour in forcing oneself upon a people unwilling or unready to be led,” he stated.
Owino urged leaders across Africa to prioritize citizens’ rights and freedoms over political ambition, warning that the loss of democratic values could have lasting consequences.
The Tanzanian Electoral Commission announced on Saturday, November 2, that Samia Suluhu had been declared President-elect after garnering 31.9 million votes, representing 97.66 percent of total votes cast. Her closest rival received only 213,414 votes, or 0.65 percent.
The results have sparked outrage after reports emerged that key opposition candidates, including Tundu Lissu, were excluded from the ballot — triggering nationwide protests against what many see as an assault on democracy.
