Tanzania has cancelled next month's independence day celebrations, with the funds to be instead spent on rebuilding infrastructure damaged in recent election unrest, Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba has said.
This announcement follows calls from opposition groups and civil society for gatherings on independence day, December 9, to protest against alleged state violence after the elections held last month.
The opposition believes hundreds of people died in a crackdown by security forces; however, the government has not released an official death toll and has announced the establishment of a commission of inquiry into the events.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who won the election with a reported 98% of the votes, faces criticism from opposition leaders who describe the election results as a mockery of democracy. Leading opposition candidates were barred from competing: Tundu Lissu has been detained on treason charges while Luhaga Mpina's candidacy was rejected on technical grounds.
International observers have raised concerns regarding the election's credibility, citing signs of manipulation and failure to adhere to democratic norms. Notably, an internet blackout was enforced for five days following the elections, restricting communications during a critical time.
Gruesome images and footage documenting the events post-election have circulated widely online, prompting international media verification of some content as authentic. The government, however, has dismissed this portrayal as a bid to damage Tanzania's image, insisting on the nation's safety.
At least 240 people have been charged with treason amid the unrest. Nevertheless, President Hassan has called for a de-escalation of tension, urging leniency from prosecutors towards those charged, many of whom have since been released.
In his statement regarding the cancellation of the celebrations, Nchemba appealed to Tanzanians to engage in peaceful dialogue rather than violence, stressing the need for unity to avoid repeating the grim past.
Since assuming office in 2021 as the first female president of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan was initially praised for her efforts to reduce political repression. However, the current political environment has become increasingly restrictive.
