Tanzania election — situation & security brief (Wed, 29 Oct 2025)

Voting is underway across Tanzania amid nationwide internet disruptions confirmed by NetBlocks and reported by major outlets. The blackout is occurring as President Samia Suluhu Hassan seeks a new mandate in an election widely viewed as uncompetitive after key opposition figures were barred or jailed. Crowds are generally calm but security forces are highly visible, and the U.S. Embassy has advised people to avoid demonstrations and large gatherings this week in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, where post-election tensions have spiked in past cycles.

The connectivity curbs complicate core parts of the vote: journalists, observers and citizens struggle to upload incident reports from polling stations; civil society “quick counts” and party tally operations can’t synchronize data in real time; and official communications may slow or appear inconsistent, which often fuels rumour and mistrust. Tanzania has a recent track record of election-period internet restrictions, and digital-rights groups warned this week that such moves undercut transparency and heighten the risk of unrest.

Security picture (today)

Police and other forces have been pre-positioned around government buildings, party offices, and likely protest sites. Authorities are signalling that the process is “peaceful,” but the risk window extends through results announcements—especially around tally centres and party headquarters in Dar es Salaam, and at sensitive locations in Zanzibar. If connectivity stays patchy after polls close, small disputes can escalate before they’re verified or debunked. Travelers and residents should steer clear of any gathering, keep movements to daylight hours, and monitor local radio/TV in case mobile data remains unreliable.

What this means for tourists—especially if you depend on ATMs or cards

Tanzania is one of Africa’s most mobile-money-intensive economies, and retail payments increasingly depend on reliable connectivity. When the internet is throttled or cut, the ripple effects hit card terminals, bank app/USSD log-ins, mobile-money transfers (M-Pesa, Airtel Money, Tigo Pesa), ride-hailing, food delivery, and some hotel/airline systems. You may encounter “cash only” signs, card terminals timing out, or ATMs that are powered but can’t complete authorizations. Expect lines at machines that are still working.

Practical adjustments:

• Carry backup cash (TZS preferred; small USD/EUR notes as secondary) and split it between bags. Use reputable bank branches or established forex bureaus for exchanges when open.
• If an ATM fails, try a major-bank branch ATM during business hours (they’re more likely to have redundancies); avoid isolated machines at night.
• Have offline options ready: printed or saved booking confirmations; offline maps; a prearranged airport transfer; and a clear plan to reach your hotel without ride-hailing.
• For mobile-money–centric merchants, ask if cash price is accepted; many will accommodate during outages.
• Keep your card issuer’s international number handy and enable SMS notifications; some terminals will batch-authorize later, so track pending charges.
  These steps align with what payment and internet-policy groups observe during shutdowns across the region: digital trade and payments slow or stall, SMEs lose sales, and travelers face friction at point-of-sale.

Bottom line

• Today’s internet disruption is real and documented; it’s already degrading election transparency and everyday transactions.
• The security posture is tight but mostly preventative; flash protests or confrontations are likeliest around tally centres and political offices over the next 24–72 hours.
• Visitors should plan for intermittent ATMs and card terminals, rely more on cash, and reduce exposure to crowds until results are settled.