DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — Tanzania has officially canceled its upcoming Independence Day celebrations, scheduled for December 9, with the government announcing that the funds allocated for the festivities will instead be redirected to rebuilding infrastructure damaged during recent post-election unrest.
Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba made the announcement on Monday 24, November 2025.
The move comes as opposition parties and activists have been mobilizing citizens to gather on that same date (December 9) to demonstrate against alleged killings and violence that followed last month’s disputed presidential poll.
Healing the damage amidst political tensions
The October 29 election saw President Samia Suluhu Hassan declared the winner with nearly 98% of the vote, a result the opposition immediately rejected as a “mockery of democracy.”
The key opposition challengers were prevented from contesting: Tundu Lissu remains in detention on treason charges (which he denies), and Luhaga Mpina’s candidacy was rejected on technical grounds. International election observers have noted signs of manipulation, concluding that the vote fell short of democratic standards.
The unrest that followed the poll led to a violent security crackdown. The opposition alleges that hundreds of people died, although the government has yet to release an official death toll.
In announcing the cancellation of the national holiday, Prime Minister Nchemba appealed to the nation to avoid further violence and prioritize 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.
Inquiry commission and leniency
In response to the violence, the government has set up a commission of inquiry, which government spokesman Gerson Msigwa said on Sunday would “shed light into what happened.” However, opposition groups have already raised concerns over the commission’s independence and impartiality.
The government has also had to contend with the spread of graphic images and videos of dead Tanzanians, which have been widely shared online, with international media verifying some of the graphic footage.
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The government, while insisting the country is safe, has criticized this portrayal, arguing it is aimed at tarnishing the nation’s image.
In an effort to ease tensions, President Hassan requested that prosecutors “show leniency” toward those arrested during the protests.
At least 240 people had been charged with treason following the unrest, many of whom have reportedly since been released.
President Hassan, who became Tanzania’s first female president following the death of President John Magufuli in 2021, was initially praised for opening up the political space, but critics now point to the recent electoral events as evidence of renewed repression.
