Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been sworn in for a second term amid tight security, following an election marred by violent protests and rejected by the opposition as a sham.
The inauguration ceremony was held at a military parade ground in the capital, Dodoma, instead of a stadium as in previous years. It was closed to the public but was shown live on state TV.
Samia was declared the winner on Saturday with 98% of the vote. She faced little opposition with key rival candidates either imprisoned or barred from running.
International observers have raised concerns about the transparency of the election and its violent aftermath, with hundreds of people reportedly killed.
On Monday, election observers from southern African regional body Sadc, of which Tanzania is a member, issued a strong statement, saying that in most areas, “voters could not express their democratic will”. The observers highlighted restrictions on the oppostion and suspected ballot stuffing.
The authorities have sought to downplay the scale of the violence. It has been difficult to obtain information from the country or verify the death toll, as a nationwide internet shutdown was in place from election day, last Wednesday, until Monday afternoon. Access remains severely restricted, especially to social media sites and messages platforms, reports internet monitor NetBlocks.
After being sworn in, President Samia thanked the electoral commission for running the elections with “unquestionable efficiency”.
She expressed sadness over the violence that had resulted in “loss of lives and destruction of public property”, describing it as a blot on Tanzania’s image.
Some Tanzanians have told the BBC they have not seen their relatives since polling day.
A woman who asked to only be identified as Mama Kassim told the BBC that she has not seen her two sons since election day last Wednesday – and was unable to reach one of them.
“I don’t know where he is, I don’t know whether he has been arrested, I don’t know if he is injured, I don’t know if he is hospitalised, I don’t know if he is dead.”
“Oh God, protect my son. He’s only 21 years old,” she said.
Another Tanzanian told the BBC he had not yet returned home in Dar es Salaam from his workplace since Wednesday due to a lack of transport.
“I had only 10,000 shillings ($4) on my phone. I sent it to my family on Friday to buy food, but it wasn’t enough and it ran out yesterday. I have no more money. My children are hungry,” he said.
