Tanzania’s President Cancels Independence Day Celebration to Divert the Money to Kids

Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has cancelled the scheduled Independence Day for Friday. She has decided to direct the funds to be used for the celebration to build dormitories for kids with special needs.

George Simbachawene, Tanzania’s Minister of State, reported on Monday that the funds had been distributed.

He said that the nation of East Africa would observe Independence Day by holding open discussions on development rather than parades and other national festivities.

“The debates and conferences will be preceded by various schedules for regional and district leaders to carry out social activities in different areas, including cleaning hospitals, schools, elderly homes and groups with special needs,” he said.

Tanzania’s President allocated the $445,000 cost for the 61st Independence Day celebration to be used to construct eight dorms in elementary schools around the nation.

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Not the first time a Tanzania President cancelled the Independence Day Celebration   

Typically, state feasts and pageantry characterise the celebration of Independence Day. But this is not the first time Tanzania has cancelled the independence celebrations.

In 2015, the former President John Magufuli cancelled celebrations and used the money instead to build a road in the commercial centre of Dar es Salaam.

He repeated this in 2020 and instructed that the budget be used to buy medical facilities.

Tanzania’s first female president is Hassan, who is currently in office.

She previously attracted notice by requesting that police officers with large bellies trim down so they could work more productively.

She served as a development officer for the Zanzibar government for decades before ascending to a greater rank. She later served as the executive director of a group that served as an umbrella for Zanzibar’s non-governmental organisations while working as a project manager for the UN’s World Food Programme.

She has also given public speeches to inspire Tanzanian women and girls to pursue their aspirations. She formerly served as a minister for youth employment, women, and children.

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