Tanzania has called off its independence day celebrations scheduled for December 9, redirecting the money to repair infrastructure damaged during last month’s election unrest.
According to the BBC, Prime minister Mwigulu Nchemba said the decision was necessary as the country deals with the fallout of a vote that has triggered anger, protests and a national debate about political freedoms.
The announcement follows growing calls from the opposition and civil society groups urging citizens to gather on independence day to protest the killings that occurred after the disputed October poll.
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Opposition leaders say hundreds of people were killed when security forces cracked down on demonstrations. The government has not released an official death toll and has instead set up a commission of inquiry, though rights groups question its independence.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan won the election with 98 percent of the vote, a result the opposition described as a “mockery of democracy”. Major challengers were unable to run. Tundu Lissu was detained on treason charges, which he denies, while Luhaga Mpina was barred from the race after officials rejected his candidacy on technical grounds.
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Election observers have since raised concerns about manipulation, reporting that the vote fell short of democratic standards. The authorities also shut down the internet for five days from October 29, warning citizens against sharing images from the protests. Despite this, graphic videos of dead bodies circulated widely online, with international media verifying some of the footage. The government accused critics of trying to damage the country’s reputation, insisting Tanzania remains safe.
Government spokesman Gerson Msigwa said on Sunday that the inquiry would “shed light” on the events, but activists worry that the process will lack transparency. At least 240 people were charged with treason after the unrest, though President Samia later urged prosecutors to exercise leniency. Many of those arrested have since been released.
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Announcing the cancellation of the independence festivities, Nchemba urged Tanzanians to avoid violence and embrace political dialogue. “I urge my fellow Tanzanians to come together and discuss the issues affecting us. Let us not return to what we went through, because the consequences are irreparable,” he said.
President Samia, who became Tanzania’s first woman to lead the country after the 2021 death of John Magufuli, was initially praised for loosening the political climate. But critics say the space for dissent has tightened once again, and the country is now grappling with one of its most tense political moments in years.
