Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan has cancelled this year’s Independence Day celebrations and directed the Sh960 million budget for the event to be relocated to construct dormitories for children with special needs.
The funds will be channeled to the schools through the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG).
Minister of State Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Coordination and Parliamentary Affairs), Mr George Simbachawene on Monday December 5, told reporters the Sh960 million budget should be used to construct dormitories for eight primary schools in the country.
Simbachawene identified the schools as; Buhangija (Shinyanga), Goeko (Tabora), Darajani (Singida), Mtanga (Lindi), Songambele (Manyara), Msanzi (Rukwa), Idofi (Njombe), and Longido (Arusha).
The minister said Simbachawene said, the 61st anniversary will be celebrated through debates and conferences to discuss various issues of social development 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,” he said.
The minister added: Therefore, this year’s celebrations will not have parades and other National activities.
This is not the first time a Tanzanian head of state cancels Independence Day celebrations.
In 2015, Samia’s predecessor, the late John Magufuli canceled Tanzania’s Independence Day celebrations directing 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.
Tanzania which marks its 61st anniversary this year, celebrates her independence from British rule annually on December 9.
