Tanzania marked its 64th Independence Anniversary on Tuesday, with President Samia Suluhu Hassan calling on citizens to uphold the country’s longstanding values of peace, unity and solidarity.
In a message shared to commemorate the national holiday, President Suluhu expressed gratitude to God for guiding the nation through more than six decades of sovereignty, noting that Tanzania’s stability remains a model for Africa and the rest of the world.
“We thank Almighty God for this great milestone. As we celebrate this important day, let us remind one another of the importance of continuing to safeguard our national values of peace, unity, and solidarity,” she said.
“These values are the foundation of our progress and are a unique example for Africa and the world at large.”
The President emphasised that the benefits of independence continue to manifest through the country’s ability to make its own decisions, plan national priorities and implement development programmes that protect citizens’ welfare and the nation’s interests.
According to President Hassan, these achievements reflect the vision and sacrifices of the country’s founding leaders, whose efforts laid the groundwork for a united and stable republic.
She urged Tanzanians to honour this legacy by remaining committed to national cohesion and patriotic duty.
“The fruits of our independence continue to be seen in our ability to decide, plan and implement programmes that benefit our citizens and protect our national interests. These are the achievements our nation’s founders fought for and those that we will always protect,” she noted.
The President further encouraged citizens to celebrate and safeguard the nation’s sovereignty, calling independence a collective inheritance deserving pride and protection.
“Let us celebrate, take pride in, safeguard, and cherish our independence,” she said.
Tanzania attained independence from British colonial rule on December 9, 1961, under the leadership of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.
This year’s commemoration comes at a time when the country is navigating political and economic challenges, with national leaders urging citizens to remain united as the country charts its path forward.
Her remarks come after planned anti-government protests dubbed ‘D9’ failed to kick off on Tuesday.
Security has been tightened across Tanzania, with police and military seen patrolling major cities ahead of anticipated anti-government protests called to coincide with Independence Day.
Residents in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mbeya, Mwanza and several other urban centres reported an unusually slow start to the day, with many people choosing to remain indoors amid uncertainty over whether protests would happen.
The demonstrations were called to demand political reforms in the wake of October's post-election unrest which left an unknown number of people dead.
