The 2025 theme, “Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials,” invites us to see human rights not as distant ideals or legal abstractions, but as the quiet foundations of daily life—dignity, freedom, equality and justice. As the United Nations has noted, the theme reaffirms that human rights remain a winning proposition for humanity, as relevant today as they were in 1948.

In post-election Tanzania, however, the conversation around human rights is unfolding against a deeply testing backdrop.

The 29 October general election was marred by violence on a scale the country has not witnessed before. According to media reports and statements from human rights organisations, incidents were recorded in about 14 of the 26 regions on the Tanzania Mainland, mainly in urban centres and surrounding towns.

Speaking to residents in affected areas such as Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Mwanza, and later during meetings with editors in November and early December, Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba acknowledged that the violence placed Tanzania on what he described as the wrong side of history. Lives were lost, people were injured, and public infrastructure, as well as private property, was destroyed. The figures are sobering. Yet numbers alone do not capture the full human impact, and that is not where I wish to dwell.

Viewed through a human rights lens, the post-election violence was both preceded and accompanied by multiple forms of rights violations. To understand them properly requires a broader appreciation of what human rights truly represent. 

In line with this year’s theme, the United Nations reminds us that human rights “are the essentials we all share, the common ground that unites us across differences of race, gender, belief or background.”

The theme speaks directly to the principles of universality and inalienability, equality and non-discrimination, and the interdependence and indivisibility of rights. These are the principles I seek to unpack in a series of reflections around this important moment.

Article 29(1) of the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania affirms that “every person in the United Republic has the right to enjoy fundamental human rights.” In that spirit, the 2025 Human Rights Day theme offers a positive, life-affirming perspective.

Human rights do not merely protect; they bring safety, dignity and meaning into everyday life. They are lived realities. As the United Nations powerfully reminds us, human rights are found in the food we eat, the air we breathe, the words we speak, the opportunities we pursue and the protections that keep us safe.

During the election period, the right to vote was among those under threat. Some citizens, dissatisfied with the electoral process and the absence of certain reforms, chose not to participate. That choice, in itself, was within their rights. What was not justified was interference with the rights of others, those who wished to cast their ballots, or those who might have voted but feared for their safety.

The opposition party CHADEMA’s campaign of “No Reforms, No Election,” and its decision not to take part in the polls unless reforms were implemented, is cited by many as having heightened tensions even before election day. While frustration and dissatisfaction existed on one side of the political divide, organising actions that sought to disrupt a constitutionally mandated election was a misstep. The constitutional guarantee of fundamental human rights unquestionably includes the right to vote.

For millions of Tanzanians in cities such as Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Mbeya and Mwanza, the election period brought a different kind of harm. Many stayed indoors, not as participants in violence, but out of fear. They were denied freedom of movement, the right to work and access to essential services, including healthcare. The cost of living rose sharply in some areas, while vandalism of public infrastructure, funded by taxpayers, disrupted daily life. These, too, are human rights violations, though they receive far less attention. 

Statements from international human rights bodies, including the United Nations and the UN Human Rights Council, rightly expressed concern over deaths and injuries during what they described as demonstrations. They also raised alarms over enforced disappearances and detentions in the period surrounding the elections. These concerns deserve serious attention. Yet many such statements appeared to focus on selected rights while overlooking others. Whether this was intentional or a reflection of incomplete information on the ground remains an open question.

Condemning any human rights violation, even one affecting a single individual, is always justified. But from a protection standpoint, a complex and delicate balance emerges when a state is simultaneously obliged by its Constitution to safeguard civilians, public order and property.

Human rights are, by nature, broad and interconnected. Those who protested even before election day have the right to be heard. The question, then, is not whether dialogue is necessary, but how it should be pursued.

In this regard, Tanzania has taken a constructive step. At the launch of the Commission of Enquiry, President Samia Suluhu Hassan stated that the body was tasked with investigating the violence of 29 October and the days that followed. Its mandate includes identifying causes and proposing recommendations to help the country regain its footing. 

The Commission, composed largely of respected senior citizens with strong track records in human rights enforcement and investigation at both national and international levels, is expected to apply a wide range of skills, most importantly, attentive listening. This includes listening to those who questioned the electoral process even before polling day. The President has pledged to use the Commission’s findings to inform an inclusive national dialogue aimed at addressing root causes and preventing a recurrence of violence.

As the Commission undertakes this responsibility, it remains essential for Tanzania to continue telling its own story, clearly and honestly. In this context, President Samia’s recent communication to UN Secretary-General António Guterres helped convey the government’s perspective on the situation. In response, the Secretary-General commended Tanzania’s historic standing as “a reference point of peace and social cohesion in Africa and the world,” while acknowledging the country’s resilience in preserving national unity and stability.

More effort is needed to sustain this narrative, not to deny challenges, but to present a fuller picture. Tanzania is safe. Tanzanians have returned to work. Businesses are operating again. These are verifiable realities, open to scrutiny by international media and the global community, should they choose to engage with objectivity. 

Telling that story is a collective responsibility. A wide range of human rights, particularly economic and social rights, remain at stake if silence prevails or if public discourse is shaped solely by selective narratives. The future of Tanzania’s human rights journey depends not only on what is criticised, but on what is understood.

Notes to Editors

·      Tanzania held its general election on 29 October 2025, during which incidents of violence were reported in several regions, prompting national and international concern over human rights and public order.

·      Following the elections, the Government of Tanzania established a Commission of Enquiry to investigate the causes of post-election violence, assess alleged human rights violations and recommend measures to prevent future unrest.

·      The Commission comprises senior legal and human rights practitioners with experience at national and international levels and is mandated to inform an inclusive national dialogue.

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