AU Slams Tanzania Polls

The African Union observer mission has faulted Tanzania’s October 29 election, saying it failed to meet democratic standards. President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the landslide winner, but opposition parties accused the government of fraud, sparking deadly protests over the exclusion of key rivals.

Observers saw ballot stuffing at several polling stations, with people being issued multiple papers to vote, it said, also noting an absence of political party agents. During counting, some observers were asked to leave stations, it added.

The government says the election was fair and transparent.

Tanzania's main opposition party CHADEMA, which was barred from participating in the election, says it has documented hundreds of deaths in the protests.