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As per the leading opposition group, approximately 700 individuals have reportedly lost their lives during 72 hours of poll-related demonstrations in the East African nation.

Violence Begins on Voting Day

Demonstrations erupted on Wednesday over claims that protesters described as the stifling of the opposition after the exclusion of prominent candidates from the presidential ballot.

Casualty Numbers Claimed

A rival official announced that numerous of individuals had been lost their lives since the protests commenced.

"Currently, the death toll in Dar es Salaam is approximately 350 and for another city it is more than 200. Added to estimates from elsewhere throughout the country, the total count is about 700," the official stated.

The spokesperson added that the toll could be even larger because killings may be occurring during a evening curfew that was imposed from election day.

Additional Estimates

• An official source supposedly stated there had been reports of more than 500 dead, "possibly 700-800 in the entire nation."
• The human rights organization stated it had received information that a minimum of 100 individuals had been lost their lives.
• The opposition asserted their estimates had been compiled by a network of supporters attending clinics and medical centers and "tallying dead bodies."

Appeals for Change

Rival officials called for the government to "stop harming our protesters" and demanded a transitional government to facilitate free and fair elections.

"End violence. Respect the will of the people which is democratic rights," the spokesperson said.

Authorities Measures

Officials responded by imposing a restriction. Online restrictions were also noted, with global watchdogs stating it was nationwide.

On Thursday, the military leader condemned the violence and called the activists "lawbreakers". The official announced law enforcement would seek to manage the unrest.

International Concern

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed it was "worried" by the fatalities and harm in the protests, mentioning it had received accounts that a minimum of 10 civilians had been killed by authorities.

The office mentioned it had collected reliable reports of deaths in Dar es Salaam, in Shinyanga and an eastern area, with security forces using real bullets and chemical irritants to break up protesters.

Expert Opinion

A human rights lawyer remarked it was "unreasonable" for law enforcement to employ violence, adding that the country's leader "must refrain from sending the police against the people."

"The president needs to listen to the people. The feeling of the nation is that there was no election … We are unable to elect a single contender," the lawyer said.