Tanzania opposition rejects government report on election violence, calls it biased

Tanzania’s opposition has formally rejected a government-appointed commission’s report into post-election violence, dismissing its findings as biased and lacking credibility.

The commission’s report, released earlier this week, concluded that hundreds of people lost their lives during unrest following the country’s October elections. It also suggested the violence was coordinated and involved organized groups.

But opposition leaders argue the document fails to accurately reflect events on the ground and ignores key concerns raised by victims’ families and political stakeholders.

“The process was not transparent enough,” a senior opposition figure said, adding that many voices from civil society and affected communities were sidelined.

The report has split opinion among political observers and civil society groups. Some view it as a necessary step toward documenting the scale of the violence, while others agree with the opposition that it falls short of delivering full accountability.

The government maintains that the commission was established to uncover facts and offer recommendations for national reconciliation. However, tensions remain high as calls grow for an independent investigation into the unrest and its root causes.

The standoff underscores deep political divisions in Tanzania following the disputed elections, with little sign of immediate consensus between the government and opposition.