Tanzania President scraps Independence Day celebrations to redirect funds

Tanzania PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has cancelled celebrations to mark the country’s 61 Independence Day on December 9 and directed the funds earmarked for the event to be used to construct school dormitories for kids with special needs.

Tanzania which marks its 61st anniversary this year, celebrates her independence from British rule annually on December 9.

A statement released by the Minister of State Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Coordination and Parliamentary Affairs), Mr George Simbachawene on Monday, said the 960m/- budget should be used to construct dormitories for eight primary schools in Tanzania.

This is not the first time the Head of State cancels Independence Day celebrations.

In 2015, Samia’s predecessor, the late John Magufuli cancelled Tanzania’s Independence Day celebrations directing that the funds budgeted for the event be channeled to build (Mwenge-Morocco) Road in Dar es Salaam.

In 2020 he did the same and directed that the funds earmarked for the event be used to buy medical facilities.

President Samia arrives at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam to participate in Independence Day celebrations on December 9, 2021

Simbachawene said, “the 61th anniversary will be celebrated through debates and conferences held in all the districts in the country.”

“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. Therefore, this year’s celebrations will not have parades and other National activities,” he said

Source: allafrica.com

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