Staff Reporter

Tanzania has effectively banned public access to the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, just one week before the country’s highly anticipated general election.

This move has intensified concerns over political freedoms and transparency.

The nationwide restriction, confirmed by multiple sources and digital monitoring groups, only permits government officials, including President Samia Suluhu Hassan, to maintain access.

Authorities claim the move is to combat misinformation and protect national security.

The public has condemned the restriction, claiming that it is a direct assault on dissent and free expression in the lead-up to the polls.

The ban comes amid a period of escalating political tension and coincides with the dramatic disqualification and arrest of main opposition leader Tundu Lissu.

Lissu, a prominent government critic, was arrested earlier this week and charged with treason, effectively barring him from contesting the upcoming election.

Opposition figures and human rights groups view the social media restriction and Lissu’s exclusion as part of a systematic campaign to eliminate political competition and limit public scrutiny of the electoral process.

“This is a state-sanctioned digital blackout intended to shield the ruling establishment from accountability,” said Freeman Mbowe, leader of the CHADEMA opposition party, who vowed to continue mobilization through alternative channels.

X has long been a crucial platform for political dialogue, real-time election reporting, and civic engagement in Tanzania.

The ban, according to the public, is the government’s action to silence millions of citizens at a critical democratic moment.