Tanzania politicians in shock as cabal takes over after massacre

TANZANIAN politicians are in shock over the massacre of hundreds of young protesters during its recent election, insiders said, but are too afraid to speak out as a tiny cabal of hardliners around the president takes control.

- 

PROTESTERS attack a polling station as clashes erupt in Dar es Salaam. | AFP

(AFP)

Gruesome images of dead Tanzanians have flooded the internet in the wake of the October 29 elections that triggered widespread protests over government repression.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan officially won with 98% of the vote, but key opposition leaders were jailed or disqualified.

The opposition says more than 1 000 were killed as security forces crushed the protests under cover of a five-day internet blackout.

Two weeks on, the government has yet to give any casualty numbers.

“There are... disturbing reports that security forces have been seen removing bodies from streets and hospitals and taking them to undisclosed locations in an apparent attempt to conceal evidence,” UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk said this week.

A senior official in the Tanzanian government who said they were horrified by the events of the past fortnight, agreed to talk.