Tanzania has called off its Independence Day celebrations scheduled for December 9, opting instead to use the money to repair infrastructure damaged during last month’s post-election unrest.

Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba confirmed the cancellation, saying the government believed it was more responsible to channel resources towards restoring public services affected during the violence.

Opposition groups had urged citizens to turn out on Independence Day to protest what they say were killings linked to the disputed vote. Authorities have not released an official death toll, despite growing pressure for transparency.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner with 98% of vote, a result the opposition has condemned as fundamentally undemocratic, alleging intimidation and irregularities throughout the process.

Government officials say the decision to scrap the celebrations is part of efforts to calm tensions, though critics argue it reflects the mounting strain over the election fallout.

–ChannelAfrica–