TANZANIAN President Samia Suluhu Hassan won a disputed election with more than 97 per cent of the vote, according to official results announced on Saturday. 

Her two main opponents had both been prevented from running, leaving her essentially unopposed.

In remarks after her victory was announced, Ms Hassan noted that Tanzanians had voted overwhelmingly for a woman leader.

She said with the election being over “it’s time to unite our country and not destroy what we’ve built over more than six decades.

“We will take all actions and involve all security agencies to ensure the country is peaceful.”

As vice-president, Ms Hassan was automatically elevated when her predecessor, John Pombe Magufuli, died in 2021, months after the start of his second term.

Tundu Lissu, leader of the Chadema opposition group, has been jailed for months, charged with treason after he called for electoral reforms. Another opposition figure, Luhaga Mpina of the ACT-Wazalendo group, was barred from running.

Chadema said late Saturday that ”these results have no basis in reality, as the truth is that no genuine election took place in Tanzania,” charging that Ms Hassan was keeping power by force.

There are unconfirmed reports from Chadema that more than 700 people have been killed during days of protests leading up to last Wednesday’s election.