Friday’s Independence Day celebrations in Tanzania have been cancelled by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who has instead ordered that the funds be utilised to construct dormitories for kids with special needs.
The $445,000 cost of the 61st Independence Day celebration will be utilised to construct eight dorms in elementary schools around the nation.
George Simbachawene, Tanzania’s Minister of State, said 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.
Celebrations of Independence Day are typically distinguished by pomp and state banquets.
Tanzania has postponed the festivities before, though not this time.
In 2015, the country’s then-President John Magufuli cancelled celebrations and used the money to build a road in Dar es Salaam, the commercial centre.
He repeated it in 2020 and instructed that medical facility purchases be made from the budget.
Hassan, the current president, is Tanzania’s first female leader.
She previously attracted notice by directing police officers with huge bellies to lose weight in order to function more efficiently.
She served as a development officer for the Zanzibar government for decades before ascending to 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 dreams. She previously served as a minister for youth employment, women, and children.
