Political temperature raises eyebrows among Tanzanians in the diaspora

The images captured in these videos have sparked widespread discussions about the country’s political climate.

As citizens brace themselves for the upcoming election, the growing scrutiny of governmental actions and public responses continues to fuel tensions.

The diaspora community’s main access to information from Tanzania is through social media, which shapes their opinions and perceptions of what is happening on the ground.

Election times have always been tense, with an expected scuffle between the security forces and the citizens. Still, the escalation to having a demonstrator dead and more injured has shocked the diaspora community, who have always prided themselves on coming from Tanzania, the haven of peace; ironically, that’s what Dar es Salaam translates to from Arabic (Dar as Salam) – “house of peace”.

Around 1865, a small fishing village called Mzizima was chosen as a new city in the mainland port in East Africa. Sultan Sayyid Majid bin Said named it Dar es Salaam, “House of Peace”, to symbolise stability, good trade relationships, and economic prosperity.

The latter has been achieved with the diaspora community injecting billions of dollars in investment, supporting families back home, and donating to causes they believe would benefit their motherland. So it is understandable when such events raise alarms within their communities.

There is a huge generational gap within the diaspora community; some went to the US as adults and still remember what elections were like in Tanzania and are less shocked by the recent ‘interactions’.

Others left as children and have only seen democratic processes, including elections, from the Western point of view, where citizens have avenues to criticise, hold their elected officials accountable and demonstrate, which are enshrined in their constitutions, and young people are expected to voice their opinion either on social media or in the streets.

This group of the diaspora is not very different from those born in the countries their Tanzanian parents emigrated to. Inevitably, the reaction to the videos of the clashes with the police in Kisutu varied among the Tanzanians living abroad.

One of the critics of the heavy-handed policing was the famous entrepreneur and former supermodel Tausi Likokola, living in the US, who is 7 hours behind; upon seeing the images of the victims of the assaults online, she wrote, “Woke up to saddening images. Imagine if this were you, your brother, son, father, or relative.

There are also reports of women being assaulted. How is this acceptable? What if that was your mother, daughter, or sister? These HR violations have to STOP.” The sentiments to voice their displeasure among many diasporans, though some have chosen not to engage in any political matters, stem from beliefs that aligning with a certain political party or cause could harm their interest in Tanzania. Some have investments there, and they would rather go unnoticed in political debates.

Major Tanzanian political parties recognise the power the diaspora yields and have for decades tried to win influence within their communities, with both the ruling party and opposition electing their branches in these foreign countries.

CCM has had a strong foothold, with Chadema and ACT Wazalendo trying to build their reputation and influence to rival the ruling party.

Though these Tanzanians living abroad have no voting power come October 2025, their stake and influence in the general election are increasingly evident. It has been suggested that, using their financial capability, they have funded the opposition in times when there is a dire need for financial assistance, especially when political leaders need bail money to escape the clutches of the jail bars, albeit temporarily, till their case is tried.

While political leaders’ incarceration has always been the opportune time to fundraise, it has always appealed to the diaspora community, who are more prone to fight for human rights that they see as non-negotiable in civil society, and placing one behind bars has always irked them. But there have been concerns about the deep divide within the very diaspora community Tanzanian political parties appeal to; sentiments like reputable diaspora organisations being perceived as partisan and in support of the government have been echoed.

The very avenues where the diaspora community felt safe to speak unreservedly are no longer that. When such organisations are no longer trusted and joining them feels like aligning with a certain political party, that does a major disservice to the unity of Tanzanians in the diaspora.

There have been many incidents where these organisations were anticipated to make a statement to condemn certain acts in Tanzania, but the diaspora community was dismayed by their silence.

Understandably, the fear of antagonising the government could derail their pursuit of special status or dual citizenship recognition, but one of the diaspora members questioned whether they are willing to compromise everything in the name of pleasing the power that is.

Many Tanzanians who returned from living overseas joined political parties back home, so it is perceived that some choose not to speak up so that they do not leave a digital footprint that would later question their loyalty to a party they will join. Which is argued as not true patriotism but self-serving, but as indicated earlier, there are some Tanzanians abroad who have no idea what is going on and the political landscape or history to fully comment on what is unfolding on social media; some left Tanzania as toddlers or were born abroad, though they have a strong allegiance to the country, their limited knowledge prevents them from articulating their thoughts. In the era of social media misinformation and disinformation, they are more prone to whatever video they see first and what it portrays to fully form their opinion of what is occurring as the country is gearing up for the general election.

The divisive nature of the diaspora population cannot be ignored from social, political, spiritual, economic, and educational standpoints. Having them voice a united front is unattainable, but the majority have tried to speak for the downtrodden, and what they see would reflect the values of the countries they live in.

Neighbouring countries like Kenya, which is home to many Tanzanians, just like Tanzania is home to many Kenyans, have been at the forefront of voicing their opinions on the political showdown Tanzania is witnessing. Martha Karua, a prominent Kenyan politician, lawyer, and former minister of justice, national cohesion and constitution affairs under Mwai Kibaki’s presidency, was one of the strongest voices to condemn the Tanzania police’s handling of the demonstration.

The senior counsel was even present at Kisutu Magistrate Court as a show of support. In the wake of the last United States elections that were divisive, most Tanzanians in the US fear that violent clashes with the citizens could lead to something much worse than a court case demonstration, hence their involvement to rescue the country many call home.