Embakasi East Member of Parliament, Babu Owino, has issued a stern warning to Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu, urging her to take a moment of deep reflection over the growing unrest in her country following reports of post-election violence.
In a strongly worded statement released on Saturday, November 1, Owino expressed concern that Tanzania’s democratic values were under serious threat.
He cautioned that imposing measures such as curfews, internet blackouts, and other restrictive actions would only make the already tense situation worse instead of restoring peace.
The Kenyan lawmaker warned that unless swift and genuine action is taken, Tanzania could easily slide into a state of military dictatorship or total authoritarian rule.
He pointed to examples from across Africa, where nations that ignored the value of democracy eventually found themselves under repressive regimes.
“We must look across the continent and learn from the mistakes of other countries that took their democracy for granted, only to later suffer under military or authoritarian control,” Owino stated. “This is not the Tanzania we know. Hearing about post-election violence, hundreds of deaths, curfews being enforced, and internet shutdowns is deeply worrying. Such actions have no place in today’s modern and democratic world,” he added.
Owino further cautioned President Suluhu against viewing leadership as a personal entitlement or a privilege reserved for a few.
He said that the recent wave of violence could mark the beginning of the collapse of the democratic system that Tanzania has proudly maintained for many years. Once democracy is lost, he said, it is extremely difficult to rebuild.
He urged African leaders to always put the welfare, rights, and freedoms of their citizens above their own political ambitions.
“Leadership is not a birthright, and no one is destined to rule forever,” he emphasized. “It should never be treated as a matter of life and death. Forcing oneself on people who do not willingly accept your leadership brings no honour or legitimacy.”
The warning came just a day before the Tanzanian Electoral Commission announced on Saturday, November 2, that President Samia Suluhu had been declared the winner of the just-concluded election.
The announcement sparked widespread protests across several regions of Tanzania, with angry citizens taking to the streets to express dissatisfaction with the outcome.
Many protesters accused the government of undermining democracy after major opposition figures, including popular candidate Tundu Lissu, were reportedly barred from the ballot. This move, they said, deprived the election of any real competition.
According to the Electoral Commission, Suluhu garnered an overwhelming 31.9 million votes, which represented a stunning 97.66 percent of the total votes cast.
Her closest rival, however, received only 213,414 votes—just 0.65 percent. The total number of registered voters in the election stood at 37 million.
Observers and analysts have since questioned the credibility of such results, pointing to the unusually high margin and the suppression of opposition participation as signs of possible manipulation.
Owino’s message, therefore, comes as a broader call for regional reflection on the future of democracy in East Africa, urging leaders to avoid repeating the mistakes that have previously destabilized other nations on the continent.
By calling out the Tanzanian leadership, Babu Owino has positioned himself among regional voices advocating for democracy, transparency, and human rights—values he believes are essential for the stability and progress of any African nation.
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