Tanzanian government have blocked Twitter ahead of tomorrow’s General Election, in what analysts and opposition figures is a wider scheme to rig the polls.
The government has restricted access to Twitter both in Tanzania’s mainland and Zanzibar ahead of a hotly contested presidential election.
Activists in the country have confirmed the reports, further castigating President John Pombe Magufuli for the internet restrictions said to have also affected other social media applications, including Telegram.
Some of the individuals who have managed to use Twitter say they are using Virtual Private Network (VPN), which is a struggle. This comes just days after the government suspended bulk messaging and bulk voice calling services.
While announcing the suspension over the weekend, the Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA) said that bulk SMSs might hurt the forthcoming general elections and had therefore suspended the services between October 24th and November 11th, 2020.
Only utility bulk messaging such as e-government and financial services were exempted.
Magufuli will be facing off with opposition leader Tundu Lissu who has accused the head of state of frustrating his supporters ahead of the poll.
Elsewhere, Zanzibar Presidential Candidate Seif Sharif 9 (pictured above) Hamad has been arrested.
In a statement, Hamad’s ACT Wazalendo party stated that the opposition politician was taken to Ziwani Police Headquarters in Zanzibar.
“Seif Sharif Hamad was apprehended at the Mtoni Garagara polling station where he went to vote as advance voting commenced this morning, ” read part of the statement.
