Samia was declared the winner of last month’s presidential poll with 98 percent of the vote, a result the opposition has dismissed as a “mockery of democracy”. More than 240 people were charged with treason after the demonstrations.
Alongside the inquiry, the president urged prosecutors to show leniency toward those arrested, saying many, particularly young people, were caught up in the turmoil without fully understanding the consequences. Quoting from the Bible, she said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”.
Her comments followed a call from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, who urged Tanzanian authorities to conduct a transparent investigation into reports of killings and other serious abuses during and after the 29 October vote. The opposition says hundreds may have died, although officials have not released an official death toll.
The violence shocked a country long regarded as a haven of stability and consensus in East Africa.
During an address to parliament on Friday, Samia appealed to prosecutors to consider reducing or dropping charges for those unintentionally drawn into the unrest. She described herself as “a mother and guardian of this nation” and said the justice system must handle the cases with compassion.
Samia also urged political parties to meet and agree on ways to conduct politics responsibly, reaffirming her promise to restart the process of drafting a new constitution.
The protests, largely driven by young people, mirrored Gen Z movements elsewhere in the world that challenge entrenched leadership and unresponsive governance.
Analysts say the unrest, while unprecedented in scale, followed years of simmering political tension, stalled reforms, internal rivalries within the ruling CCM party and the persistent targeting of opposition figures. In the months leading up to the vote, the government moved systematically to block credible challengers, analysts say.
The two main opposition leaders were prevented from standing, with Tundu Lissu detained on treason charges he denies and Luhaga Mpina barred on procedural grounds.
Samia’s early years in office were praised nationally and internationally for easing restrictions on the opposition and allowing political activity without fear. Her “4R” doctrine, reconciliation, resilience, rebuilding and reform, was seen as a sign of political opening.
But as election day approached, reports of abductions, arrests and brutal killings of opposition supporters surged, dashing hopes of a meaningful shift toward reform.