Tanzania urges citizens to stay home

Tanzania’s Prime Minister has asked citizens to remain indoors on Tuesday, the day activists have designated for nationwide protests over the violent suppression of demonstrations linked to the October elections. According to the United Nations, hundreds of people were likely killed during the unrest, which followed the exclusion of major opposition figures from the polls. President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner with nearly 98% of the vote. While the government has admitted that lives were lost, it denies allegations that security forces used excessive force. After calls for d

Tanzania’s Prime Minister has asked citizens to remain indoors on Tuesday, the day activists have designated for nationwide protests over the violent suppression of demonstrations linked to the October elections. According to the United Nations, hundreds of people were likely killed during the unrest, which followed the exclusion of major opposition figures from the polls. President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner with nearly 98% of the vote. While the government has admitted that lives were lost, it denies allegations that security forces used excessive force. After calls for demonstrations on December 9  the anniversary of mainland Tanzania’s independence  began circulating on social media last month, Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba announced that there would be no official celebrations this year. In a video released on Monday on the Government Information Centre’s X account, Nchemba urged citizens to stay home, though he did not directly mention the expected protests. “The government advises all citizens who do not have an emergency on December 9 to use the day for rest and celebrate at home, except for those who must report to work,” he said. Police spokesperson David Misime said the police had not received any formal request to hold demonstrations, despite the online calls for protests. He announced a ban on the planned “unlimited peaceful protests,” stating they would not be allowed to proceed. Misime added that some organisers were encouraging protesters to seize property, disrupt hospital services, and occupy the streets indefinitely in an effort to halt economic activity. Witnesses reported a heavy presence of police and military personnel on Monday along major roads in Dar es Salaam and in the northern city of Arusha. President Hassan has set up a commission to investigate the election-related violence but has repeatedly rejected claims of wrongdoing by security forces, accusing protesters of attempting to destabilise the government.