Funds Diverted to Repair Protest Damage

The Tanzanian government has cancelled the national Independence Day celebrations scheduled for Tuesday, December 9, 2025, redirecting the funds towards repairing infrastructure damaged during recent deadly post-election unrest. The announcement was made on Monday, November 24, 2025, by Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba, who stated that President Samia Suluhu Hassan had ordered the budget for the festivities be used to address the economic and structural fallout from the turmoil that followed the October 29, 2025, general election.

"On 9 December, there will be no commemorative celebrations. President Samia has directed that the funds be redirected towards repairing damaged infrastructure,” Nchemba said during a visit to road maintenance sites in Dar es Salaam. This decision follows a period of significant civil unrest in major cities like Dar es Salaam and Dodoma, where protesters clashed with security forces over the election results. Public and private properties, including police stations and polling centres, were reportedly vandalised.

Disputed Election and Violent Crackdown

The protests erupted after the National Electoral Commission declared President Suluhu the winner with a sweeping 98% of the vote. The election was widely condemned by opposition parties and observers as fraudulent, citing the arrest and disqualification of major opposition figures, including Tundu Lissu of the Chadema party, ahead of the polls. The opposition has refused to recognise the results, demanding President Suluhu’s resignation and calling for fresh elections.

The government's response to the demonstrations has drawn severe criticism from international bodies. The United Nations human rights office (OHCHR) reported on November 11, 2025, that it had received harrowing reports of hundreds of protesters being killed, injured, or detained. Opposition parties allege the death toll could be as high as 2,000, a figure that remains unverified amid an internet shutdown and media restrictions imposed by the government. The government has denied using excessive force and, on November 20, 2025, President Suluhu established a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the violence, claiming some protesters were paid to cause chaos.

Pre-empting Further Unrest

The cancellation of the December 9 celebrations coincides with calls from opposition groups for a “mother of all demonstrations” on the same day, dubbed the “D9” protests. In the weeks leading up to the announcement, Tanzanian police intensified a crackdown, arresting dozens of opposition members, social media influencers, and activists accused of inciting unrest. The government's move is therefore seen by some analysts as a tactic to prevent the national holiday from becoming a focal point for renewed mass protests against the government. The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) updated its travel advisory on November 14, 2025, warning of the potential for further demonstrations and violent responses from security forces, particularly around national holidays.

Implications for Kenya and East Africa

The political instability in Tanzania, a key partner in the East African Community (EAC), has direct consequences for Kenya and the wider region. The disruption at the Port of Dar es Salaam, a critical trade hub, forced some shipping lines to redirect to Mombasa, impacting regional logistics. The unrest has also strained diplomatic ties. High-level talks were held in early November between Kenyan Foreign Affairs Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and his Tanzanian counterpart to address the welfare of Kenyan nationals, following reports of deaths and detentions. The Tanzanian government has accused undocumented foreigners of stoking the unrest, creating a climate of fear among the Kenyan expatriate community.

The EAC itself has faced sharp criticism for its muted response to the crisis, with analysts and human rights organisations accusing the bloc of failing to uphold its own democratic principles as outlined in the EAC Treaty. This perceived silence is seen as undermining the community's credibility and its goal of regional integration. While some Kenyan officials have publicly praised Tanzania for a peaceful election, this contrasts sharply with reports from human rights groups and international media, indicating a complex diplomatic landscape.

This is not the first time Tanzania has cancelled Independence Day celebrations to reallocate funds. Under former President John Magufuli in 2015 and 2020, and by President Suluhu in 2022, funds were diverted to public works and social services. However, the current cancellation occurs in an unprecedented context of political crisis, making it a stark indicator of the nation's deep-seated divisions.