Simon Sirro, Tanzanian Police Chief, said on Tuesday that 42 people were arrested after allegedly attacking police officers who were overseeing distribution of ballot boxes in Zanzibar’s Pemba Island.
Sirro, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), told a news conference that on Monday night scores of people on the island stoned vehicles ferrying ballot boxes for the coming general elections. “The police were attacked when they were escorting vehicles ferrying the ballot boxes,” said Sirro.
The IGP said there were no reported deaths during the skirmishes but some foreign media organizations quoted opposition ACT-Wazalendo and accused police of shooting dead at least seven people.
He said the situation in Tanzanian mainland remained calm as people were preparing to vote on Wednesday.
