DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — In a direct move to preempt and contain planned nationwide demonstrations, the Tanzanian government has issued an order instructing petrol stations to severely limit fuel sales to motorbikes (boda bodas) and three-wheeled taxis (tuk-tuks) to a maximum of two litres per purchase.
The demonstrations, scheduled for December 9, 2025, were organized by opposition parties to protest the recent presidential election, which they have termed a “sham” after President Samia Suluhu Hassan won with 98 percent of the vote.
Police link fuel sales to civil unrest
The fuel restriction order was announced by Police Commander Nestory John of Chunya District, who alleged that boda boda riders and tuk-tuk drivers are highly likely to transport protesters, enabling them to cause chaos in designated areas.
Speaking at a press briefing, Commander John delivered the order in Swahili, linking increased fuel sales directly to the protesters’ mobility.
“Wauzaji wa vituo vya mafuta, tunawashauri kwa kipindi hiki ambako tunaelekea ya Decemba 9, basi wasiwauzie mafuta mengi boda boda pamoja na bajaji,” he stated. “Wauziwe mafuta isizidi lita mbili sababu unapowauzia mafuta mengi ni kuwawezesha kufanya movement from point A to point B na kuendelea kufanya uharibifu. Kwa hivyo mafuta yanapokuwa mengi, ni kama yanawapa nguvu kuenda sehemu moja kutoka kwingine.”
Loosely translated: “Fuel station vendors, we advise you during this period leading up to December 9th, not to sell a lot of fuel to boda bodas and bajajis (tuk-tuks). They should not be sold more than two litres because when you sell them a lot of fuel, you enable them to move from point A to point B and continue to cause damage. Therefore, when there is a lot of fuel, it is like it gives them the strength to go from one place to another.”
In Dar es Salaam, two litres of petrol currently cost 5,504 Tanzanian Shillings, according to the latest prices published by the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA).
Crackdown on illegal sales and diplomatic appeals
Commander John also issued a stern warning against unauthorized roadside fuel sales, noting that police surveillance will be high in the coming days.
“Tunawaambia wasafirishaji wa mafuta, wasiuze mafuta kiholela njiani. Sisi tumejiimarisha kufanya doria katika maeneo hayo kwenye vituo vya mafuta pamoja na kufuatilia magari ya kusafirisha mafuta. Endapo tutakuta mtu anapark njiani na anauza mafuta kiholela hatutasita kuchukua hatua kwa mujibu wa sheria,” he noted.
Loosely translated: “We are telling fuel transporters not to sell fuel arbitrarily on the road. We have reinforced ourselves to patrol those areas at fuel stations and to track down fuel transport vehicles. If we find someone parked on the road selling fuel arbitrarily, we will not hesitate to take action according to the law.”
The planned December 9 protests coincide with Tanzania’s Independence Day celebrations, which the government previously canceled to divert the allocated funds towards rebuilding infrastructure damaged during prior unrest. Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba had previously appealed for calm and 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,” Prime Minister Nchemba stated.
