Tanzania cancels independence day celebrations, redirects funds to repairs

Tanzania has announced that this year’s Independence Day celebrations, scheduled for December 9, 2025, will not take place.

Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba said the funds originally set aside for the national celebrations will instead be used to repair infrastructure damaged during the post-election riots on October 29, 2025.

“On 9 December there will be no commemorative celebrations. The funds that were intended for the event have been redirected, on the instructions of President Samia, towards repairing the damaged infrastructure,” he said.

He urged the relevant government sectors to act immediately, coordinating the reallocation of all resources initially intended for the festivities.

Election unrest

Unrest in Tanzania  began during election day and escalated after President Samia Suluhu was declared the winner with 98  percent of the vote. The opposition, which had been barred from contesting, condemned the result as a mockery of democracy.

Protests spread through major cities, including Dar es Salaam and Dodoma, where roads, public buildings, police stations, polling centers, and commercial businesses were heavily damaged.

Local media report that about 700 people were killed during three days of violence. Rights groups estimate that the true figure is in the hundreds, while some claims place it in the thousands. The government has not released an official casualty count.

International observation missions from the African Union, the Southern African Development Community, the East African Community, and other bodies documented electoral irregularities.

More than 200 people were charged with treason, an offence that carries the death penalty.

Ease tensions

In an attempt to ease tensions, the president later directed prosecutors to withdraw some of the cases. Courts in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, and Mwanza have since released more than 120 suspects under one year supervision orders.

Government officials attribute the destruction of public and private property to criminal groups. Opposition leaders reject that explanation and insist that the violence was linked to the actions of security forces.

A commission of inquiry has been established to investigate the unrest, but the opposition argues that it lacks independence and is dominated by ruling party loyalists.

Tanzania celebrates Independence Day on 9 December, marking Tanganyika’s independence from British rule in 1961 and its later union with Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanzania.

The day is usually observed with a presidential address, a military parade, and cultural performances.

This year, however, opposition groups have designated 9 December as the date for a nationwide demonstration.

They maintain that the election was not legitimate and continue to call for President Samia to step down.