The economy of crisis-saddled Tanzania lost roughly $238 million (TSh560 billion or KES30.75 billion) in direct losses to productivity, trade, and digital services following internet outage that gripped the country from 29th October to 3rd November 2025.

Other losses include socio-political, security, information black markets, health setback, informal economy especially the throttling of mobile payment systems.

Statistics from NetBlocks Cost of Shutdown Tool (COST) show that the suspension of X (formerly Twitter), which has been in force since 21 May 2025 (167 days and counting), translates to a loss of $165,817,059 (TSh390.33 billion), which is nearly $1 million (TZS 2.3 billion) per day.

The internet outage, which critics attribute to adverse measures taken by the government to control communications in the period just before the General Election continues to persists with limited channels accessible to citizens.

Paradigm Initiative (PIN) remains concerned about Tanzania’s election-period internet blackout, the continued suspension of X (formerly Twitter), and ongoing bandwidth throttling reported in parts of the country even after general connectivity was restored on 3rd November, a statement released on Wednesday states in part. 

PIN noted that ongoing disruptions are economically devastating and deeply damaging to digital rights. 

"This blatant defiance comes against calls by the Net Rights Coalition and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to refrain from shutting down the internet, as this is an affront to freedom of expression and access to information in terms of articles 9 and 19 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, respectively."

Furthermore, there is a real economic loss incurred through internet shutdowns, which violates the right to development entrenched in Article 22 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, to which Tanzania is a State party. 

The internet shutdown during elections came at a time when the Tanzanian government suspended access to X since 21st May 2025. 

NetBlocks’ COST model draws on data from the World Bank, ITU, and Eurostat, and uses the Brookings Institution methodology to quantify the direct economic harm of shutdowns and platform blocks. 

The tool is recognised globally for offering conservative, evidence-based estimates used by governments, the UN, and civil society researchers.

“Every shutdown chips away at trust, investment, and human potential,” said Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative. “Governments must realise that in today’s world, connectivity is the foundation of opportunity. Shutting down the internet silences citizens, stalls economies, and sets entire nations back.”

[email protected]