Tanzania’s Prime minister appealed to citizens to remain at home on Tuesday, December 9, as activists mobilised for nationwide protests over the Government’s handling of demonstrations linked to the October elections.
While the United Nations and opposition groups assert that hundreds were killed in the unrest, authorities in Dodoma insist the figures are exaggerated. The protests were ignited by the exclusion of major opposition candidates, a process that preceded President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s declaration as winner of the presidential poll. With nearly 98% of the vote.
In a video message released on December 8, via the government information centre’s X account, Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba encouraged the public to stay indoors on 9 December, the date mainland Tanzania marks its independence from Britain. He urged citizens without emergencies to “rest and celebrate” at home, even as the government cancelled official commemorations following online calls last month for mass demonstrations on Independence Day. The administration has acknowledged that fatalities occurred during the election-related unrest but has rejected claims of excessive force by security agencies.
Police officials stated on Friday that any protest would be unlawful, arguing that they had not received formal notification from organisers. Witnesses in Dar es Salaam and Arusha reported heavy deployments of police and army personnel along major roads on Monday. President Hassan has appointed a commission to investigate the violence surrounding the elections, while continuing to deny allegations of wrongdoing by the security forces and accusing protesters of attempting to destabilise the state.