Authorities in Tanzania sent out stern warnings on Tuesday to individuals to desist from engaging in any protests to speak against the results declared after the country’s recent presidential election.
Government officials indicate that the protests planned to mark the country’s Independence Day are ‘unlawful and constitute an attempted coup’.
Activists and government opponents have called for protests after the violent crackdown on demonstrations during October’s presidential election. Rights groups say hundreds of people were killed and thousands arrested.
“Those protests are not permitted and are unlawful … that is not a protest, that is a coup,” Home Affairs Minister George Simbachawene said in a media briefing in Dar es Salaam on Monday. “Our security organs will handle them.”
The police said on Friday that any demonstration would be illegal since authorities had not received any formal notification from organisers.
In a video posted on X on Monday, Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba urged people to stay home, without directly referring to the expected protests.
“The government advises all citizens who will not have an emergency on December 9 to use the day for rest and celebrate it at home, except for those whose work duties require them to be at their work stations,” he said.
Police were deployed across major streets and roads on Monday, and have confirmed the arrest of at least 10 activists and opposition supporters for online posts connected to the planned protests.
