InsiderBLM Africa
Samia Suluhu Hassan, the president of Tanzania, canceled the planned Independence Day festivities for Friday, November 9, and instead ordered that the funds be used to construct dormitories for children with special needs.
The $445,000 that was allocated for the 61st Independence Day celebration will instead be used to construct eight dormitories in primary schools across the nation.
Tanzania’s state minister, George Simbachawene, declared on Monday that the money had been dispersed. He added that public discussions on development would take place in the country of East Africa in observance of Independence Day.
State banquets and pomp are typically used to celebrate Independence Day.
Tanzania has previously delayed the festivities, but not this time.
President John Magufuli, who was in office at the time, decided to forgo the festivities in 2015 and instead used the funds to pave a road in Dar es Salaam, the capital city.
He repeated it in 2020 and gave the order to use the budget to pay for medical facility purchases.
