Tanzania cancels Independence Day celebrations amid election unrest

Tanzania has canceled next month’s Independence Day celebrations and funds will be used to rebuild infrastructure damaged in recent election unrest, Prime Minister Mwegulu Nchemba said.

His announcement comes as the opposition and others have been calling for people to gather together on Independence Day (December 9) to protest the killings that occurred after last month’s disputed polls.

The opposition believes hundreds of people died in the crackdown. The government has not announced the death toll and has set up a commission of inquiry.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan won with 98% of the vote, in what the opposition called a “mockery of democracy”.

Her main rivals were unable to challenge the poll: Tundu Lissu was detained on treason charges, a charge he denies, while Luhaga Mpina’s candidacy was rejected on technical grounds.

Election observers have since reported signs that the vote was rigged and fell short of democratic standards.

The government imposed a five-day internet blackout from election day on October 29 and threatened anyone who shared photos of the protests.

Horrifying images and videos of dead Tanzanians have since been widely circulated online, with international media confirming the authenticity of some of the footage.

However, the government criticized their portrayal as aimed at damaging the country’s image and insisted the country was safe.

On Sunday, government spokesman Gerson Msigwa said a commission of inquiry would find out what happened. However, some groups have expressed concerns about the commission’s independence.

At least 240 people were charged with treason following the protests, but the president later sought to ease tensions and asked prosecutors for “leniency.” Many of those charged have reportedly been released.

On Monday, Nchemba called on Tanzanians to avoid violence and stressed the importance of political dialogue while announcing the cancellation of the celebrations.

“I urge my fellow Tanzanians to come together and discuss the issues that affect us. Let us not go back to what we went through because the consequences are irreversible,” he said.

President Samia took office in 2021, becoming Tanzania’s first female president since the death of President John Magufuli.

She was initially praised for easing political repression, but the political space has since shrunk.