Tanzanian Mange Kimambi shares video allegedly showing election polling clerks marking votes: 'walikuwa wanatiki'

Tanzanian blogger Mange Kimambi has shared a video, showing polling clerks allegedly marking ballot papers during the just-concluded general election.

In the short clip, several election officials appear to be ticking ballot papers fuelling claims of vote-rigging.

The clip which was captioned in Swahili loosely translate to;

“The election supervisors were marking the ballots themselves, and now they have started sending me videos showing how they were doing it. During the seminar, they were clearly told that if your polling station has 400 people, you must return 400 votes for Samia.”

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A post shared by Mange Kimambi (@mangekimambi80)

Mange alleges that some election officials were under strict instructions to ensure that all registered votes at their polling stations favoured President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

These claims have not been independently verified, and the National Electoral Commission has yet to issue a formal statement on the matter.

Following the just concluded elections, tension quickly escalated across several regions, with protests erupting in areas where opposition supporters claimed the polls were rigged.

Demonstrators took to the streets, chanting slogans and demanding fresh elections, while security forces were deployed to disperse the growing crowds.

Scenes of chaos were reported in various parts of the rather peaceful country, where clashes between police and protesters left several people injured.

And today, protesters have still taken to the streets for the third day, defying warnings from the country's army chief to end the unrest.

On Thursday, army chief Gen Jacob John Mkunda ordered the protesters off the streets, saying the military would work with other security agencies to contain the situation.

International observers have called for calm and urged the Tanzanian government to investigate the allegations transparently.

Meanwhile, opposition leaders have condemned the violence, accusing the state of using excessive force against civilians exercising their democratic rights.

The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, which backs President Samia, has largely remained silent on the specific allegations of ballot tampering.