A pan-African group promoting good governance and leadership,  Mo Ibrahim Foundation, on Monday said Tanzanian election was “neither fair or legitimate,” decrying shooting of protesters and barring of opposition candidates from contest amongst others.

In a statement, the foundation decried “the violence against the demonstrators” during the election.

“An election which excludes the opposition parties is neither fair or legitimate, the anger in the street is understandable, and expected,” the statement said.

It added, “We are therefore dismayed by the new turn taken, banning opposition parties from elections, shutting the Internet, shooting at demonstrators, most of them your young people.”

Mo Ibrahim Foundation’s statement backed the reports of election observers, the European Union, UK, Canadian and Norwegian missions in Tanzania.  

CHADEMA opposition party said over 700 people were killed by police during the protests that broke out on Wednesday and last for three days

The party in a statement on Sunday, accused the police of retrieving bodies to erase evidence, calling on the International Criminal Court to investigate the killings and vowing not to recognise Mrs Hassan as President.

On Monday, President Samia Hassan, who was declared winner of the controversial election, was sworn in for a second term on Monday.

Declared winner of the election which major opposition candidates, Tundu Lissu, of CHADEMA party and Luhaga Mpina of the Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT-Wazalen, were barred from, Mrs Hassan’s swearing-in was held in State House in the capital Dodoma, under tight security, a departure from the fanfare past ceremonies recorded.

Mrs Hassan, who assumed power in 2021 following the death of former President John Magufuli, won 98 per cent of votes according to Tanzania Independent National Electoral Commission.