Tanzania will not mark this year’s Independence Day as the government diverts the funds originally set for the national celebrations to repairing infrastructure damaged during the October 29 post-election unrest. The announcement, made on Monday by Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba, reflects a shift in focus from celebration to recovery.
Speaking during an inspection of road repair works along the Kimara-Mbezi corridor in Dar es Salaam, Nchemba said the decision was made under the direction of President Samia Suluhu. “On 9 December, there will be no commemorative celebrations. President Samia has directed that the funds be redirected towards repairing damaged infrastructure,” he stated.
He called on all responsible departments to ensure the swift and proper allocation of the resources. “The responsible sectors, including the implementing agencies and the coordinator, must ensure that all the funds are properly allocated. The President has reiterated that all damaged infrastructure must be repaired,” Nchemba added.
The decision comes after weeks of unrest that followed the presidential election. Cities such as Dar es Salaam and Dodoma witnessed extensive damage to roads, government offices, and public utilities. Police stations and polling centres were vandalised, while businesses and traders in affected areas faced significant losses.
Among the most disrupted was the Port of Dar es Salaam, a vital regional trade hub. Shipping lines were forced to reroute operations to Mombasa, causing a slowdown in regional trade and logistics. The informal sector, which employs a large portion of the population, was particularly affected, with traders struggling to operate due to safety concerns and disrupted supply chains.
Prime Minister Nchemba appealed to citizens and political leaders to avoid further unrest and to pursue dialogue. “Let us move in unity and ensure such incidents never happen again. Political parties must engage constructively and peacefully,” he said.
Government Critiques Media Coverage
The government also spoke against international media reports covering the unrest. On November 23, spokesperson Gerson Msigwa criticised outlets, including CNN, accusing them of one-sided reporting based on social media and satellite imagery.
“Professional journalism requires fairness and accountability. Publishing information without seeking the government’s perspective is unprofessional,” he said, urging foreign media to respect the ongoing Commission of Inquiry.
The inquiry, chaired by retired Chief Justice Mohamed Chande, is investigating the causes of the unrest, the role of political parties, and potential external involvement.
President Samia has suggested that some young people may have been paid to participate in the protests, raising questions about outside influence on the demonstrations.
