Breaking:Atleast 700 people have been killed Amid Tanzania's 29th General Election.

 The Shadow of Power: Unpacking the Controversies and Repressive Actions of President Samia Suluhu Hassan November 1, 2025 .

When Samia Suluhu Hassan ascended to the presidency of Tanzania in March 2021 following the sudden death of John Pombe Magufuli, she was hailed as a beacon of hope. As the country's first female leader, she symbolized a potential break from Magufuli's authoritarian grip, promising reconciliation, resilience, reform, and rebuilding,her so,called "Four Rs." Early moves, like lifting bans on political rallies and releasing political prisoners, fueled optimism for a more open democracy.

 Yet, as her tenure unfolded, this promise has curdled into a darker reality. Far from dismantling the machinery of repression, Hassan's administration has overseen a surge in human rights abuses, electoral manipulation, and economic decisions that prioritize elite interests over public welfare. By November 2025, with her re-election amid widespread protests and an internet blackout, the narrative has shifted: Samia Suluhu is not a reformer, but a consolidator of power, accused of ushering in a "new era of authoritarianism."

 This article examines the key "bad deeds"the repressive tactics, policy failures, and ethical lapses,that have defined her presidency.The Illusion of Reform, Backsliding into Authoritarianism.Hassan's early gestures toward openness were shortlived. While she repealed some of Magufuli's draconian media laws and engaged in dialogue with opposition leaders like CHADEMA's Freeman Mbowe, these steps masked a deeper reluctance to challenge the system's core flaws.

 By 2024, Tanzania's Freedom House rating had plummeted from "Partly Free" to lower thresholds, reflecting a broader East African democratic decline.

 Critics argue she has "done with a smile what Magufuli did with a snarl," maintaining repression under a veneer of maternal benevolence.

A pivotal failure was her refusal to amend the constitution or enact sweeping electoral reforms despite widespread demands. In February 2025, Parliament passed bills ostensibly aimed at independent electoral commissions, but these were undermined by executive control over appointments, ensuring CCM dominance.

 This set the stage for the October 2025 elections, described as a "sham" and "coronation" rather than a contest.

 Opposition heavyweights were systematically sidelined: CHADEMA's Tundu Lissu was jailed on treason charges for advocating electoral changes, while ACT,Wazalendo's Luhaga Mpina was disqualified on technical grounds.

 The result? A vote marred by low turnout, curfews, and an internet shutdown, with Samia Suluhu Hassan securing nearly 98% in some regions amid accusations of rigging.

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Key Electoral Manipulations Under Samia SuluhuHassan

Description

Impact

Disqualification of Opposition Candidates Tundu

Lissu jailed; Mpina barred by attorney,general objection

Eliminated real challengers, ensuring CCM victory

Internet Shutdown on Election Day

Blocked access to information and coordination

Suppressed real,time reporting of irregularities

Ban on Opposition Rallies (Reinstated)

Reversal of 2021 lifts; CHADEMA activities curtailed

Voter apathy and fear of reprisal

Low Voter Turnout Enforcement

Curfews and military deployment in cities

Estimated 26% increase in registered voters, but widespread abstention

This table highlights how Hassan's regime engineered an uncompetitive poll, eroding trust in institutions and sparking three days of violent protests by October 31, 2025.

A Trail of Abductions, Torture, and Disappearances.Perhaps the most damning legacy of Hassan's rule is the wave of state-sponsored violence against dissenters. Since 2021, over 200 enforced disappearances have been documented, with "scores" of opposition figures vanishing amid "state brutality."

 In the lead-up to the 2025 election, abductions intensified: CCM critic Humphrey Polepole was snatched in October, while East African activists like Kenya's Boniface Mwangi and Uganda's Agatha Atuhairwe faced detention and torture.

These acts aren't isolated; they form a pattern. In September 2024, a CHADEMA secretariat member was beaten, doused with acid, and killed,part of a string of unsolved murders condemned but not investigated by the government.

 Opposition voices, including Lissu, have labeled Samia suluhu Hassan a betrayer, noting her administration's use of "kidnappings, deaths, and witch hunts" to silence critics.

 Even musicians like Diamond Platnumz faced backlash for campaigning for her, with some alleging payments to buy influence.

Hassan's response? Dismissals of claims as "staged?" and warnings against "meddling" by foreign activists, including Kenyans observing Lissu's trial.

Kibet Yoko,Cyprian Nyakundi ,Mkubwa Bela and others exposing what is happening in Tanzania.

 By election's end, opposition reports tallied at least 700 deaths in protest crackdowns, with military deployments turning streets into battlegrounds.

Marginalizing the Vulnerable: From Maasai Evictions to Banned Businesses Beyond political repression, Samia Suluhu Hassan's policies have disproportionately harmed marginalized groups. From 2021 to 2024, her government prosecuted Maasai communities, evicting them from ancestral lands to facilitate elite-driven development projects. Basic services like healthcare and education were withheld, and the license of Flying Doctors Africaa vital air ambulance service,was suspended, leading to preventable deaths during childbirth.

These actions echo Magufuli's land grabs but with less fanfare.Economically, Hassan has been accused of favoritism toward foreign investors at citizens' expense. A controversial 2025 port deal with Dubai's DP World sparked public outcry, coinciding with the reinstatement of Magufuli,era hardliners like Paul Makonda.

 She also banned small Kenyan,run businesses, a move decried as xenophobic and economically shortsighted.

Bans on critical music and the shuttering of a church for government critiques further illustrate her intolerance for cultural dissent.

The International Facade and Regional Tensions Hassan's global image as an "empowering" female leader has crumbled under scrutiny. She paid Kenyan influencers to whitewash her record, even as her regime tortured regional activists and barred observers from trials.

At the 2025 African Union summit, she withheld support for Raila Odinga, straining ties with Kenya.

International bodies like the African Union have been criticized for silence on these abuses, allowing her to project stability abroad while stifling it at home.

A Legacy of Betrayal: What Lies Ahead?Samia Suluhu Hassan's presidency began with whispers of change but ends in echoes of brutality. From jailing rivals and disappearing critics to evicting communities and rigging elections, her "bad deeds" have not only betrayed her reformist promises but also plunged Tanzania into deeper authoritarianism. As protests rage and the death toll mounts, the question remains: Can a leader who smiles through suppression ever deliver true reconciliation?

 The international community must now demand accountability, lest Hassan's Tanzania becomes a cautionary tale of gender,blind tyranny.This article draws on reports from credible sources including The Economist, The Guardian, BBC, and human rights monitors. For a fuller picture, Tanzanians deserve transparent investigations into these allegations.

Blog prepared BILL VALAR @mkuu_bela on X