Tanzania Cancel Independence Day Celebration Afta Election Wahala

Tanzania don cancel next month independence day celebration, Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba don yarn say di money wey suppose dey for di celebration go instead use rebuild infrastructure wey don spoil for di recent election wahala. Di announcement come as opposition and others dey call for people make dem gather on independence day, 9 December, to protest di killings wey happen afta last month disputed election. Opposition talk say hundreds don die for di crackdown, but government never yarn official death toll and dem don set up commission of inquiry. President Samia Suluhu Hassan win di election with 98% of di vote, wey opposition call “mockery of democracy”. Key opponents dem never fit contest: Tundu Lissu dey detention for treason wey e deny, while Luhaga Mpina candidacy reject on technical grounds. Election observers report say di vote no pure and fall short of democracy standard. Government don impose internet blackout for five days from 29 October election and warn anybody wey dey share protest photos.

Gruesome videos and pictures of dead Tanzanians don dey widely shared online, with international media confirm some of dem correct. But government talk say di way dem dey show am na to spoil country image, insist say Tanzania dey safe. On Sunday, government spokesman Gerson Msigwa talk say commission of inquiry go shine light on wetin happen, but some groups dey fear say di commission no go independent. At least 240 people don face treason charge afta di protests, but president later try calm matter, ask prosecutors make dem “show leniency”, and some don don release. On Monday, while e dey announce cancellation, Nchemba appeal make Tanzanians avoid violence and talk political issues calmly. E yarn, “I urge my fellow Tanzanians make we come together discuss di issues wey dey affect us. Make we no return to wetin we don go through, cos di wahala fit spoil everything.” President Samia come office for 2021 as Tanzania first female president after death of President John Magufuli. She bin dey praised first for easing political repression, but political space don dey narrow since then.