Tanzania’s police declared an evening curfew in commercial capital Dar es Salaam on Wednesday, after protests broke out in the city as the country held elections criticised for repressing the opposition.
The curfew starts at 06:00 p.m. local time (1500 GMT) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s biggest city and commercial capital, the country’s national broadcaster TBC reported.
“Following the unrest which started this morning, the police alert the public in Dar es Salaam that everyone should be at home from six in the evening,” police chief Camillus Wambura said on national broadcaster TBC.
Wambura also said military and police officers would be patrolling the city.
This follows after Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner, Alfred Chalamila, said state agencies are in place, Strong, and ready to face any attempt to breach the peace in the city, stressing that the Government will not hesitate to take strict action against any person or group that tries to disrupt order.
The statement in October 29 came following reports of the presence of a group of youths who allegedly tried to protest in the Kibo area, Kimara, before the police dispersed them.
“Even if you see there is propaganda of any kind on social media about any area of the Dar es Salaam Region, know the power that will be used to control the matter is seven times more than the force applied planning it,” said Chalamila.
Speaking to reporters immediately after of voting, Chalamila stressed the importance of protecting a culture of peace which Tanzania has built over the years, and urged citizens to continue trust their government as well as the security agencies.
“Our nation’s culture is peace. If we destroy it, we will have lost the foundation of our existence as National. I have traveled to different places to tell young people to come forward to exercise justice their primary to vote, but let them do so peacefully,” he said.
Chalamila also appealed to the people of Dar es Salaam to continue to work with the Government to ensure the city continues to be the center of stability, development and national cohesion.
Earlier, Police in Dar es Salaam dispersed a group of youths who were trying to march in the Kimara Kibo area, the distance between Ubungo and Kimara.
They continued to monitor the situation in the area with patrol vehicles spotted along the Morogoro Road highway.
During the protest, a polling station was destroyed as protests erupt across Tanzania during the election day.
This has led to the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania to issue an alert warning of ongoing demonstrations in multiple locations across the country.
They noted that security forces are actively responding to the unrest, and U.S. government personnel have been advised to remain sheltered at their residences.
The protests are part of an online response by activist and youth groups calling for more political reform.
Approximately 33 million registered voters across Tanzania are expected to cast votes for the incoming President, National Assembly (Parliament) members, and local government councilors in a single.
