While some are hailing Tanzanian President John Magufuli’s efforts to contain costs by cancelling this year’s Union Day celebrations, others are alleging that the ruling party is censoring the media and that a tense political atmosphere is dampening celebrations.
Tuesday marks the anniversary of the day in 1964 on which Tanganyika merged with the island of Zanzibar to form Tanzania.
But President John Magufuli has cancelled this year’s Union Day celebrations in what he said was a cost-saving measure. He has recommended road construction with the funds that were set aside for the celebrations.
This follows a similar move last year when the president ordered that the December Independence Day celebrations be dedicated to clean-up campaigns.
Media reports suggest that the cancellation of two national holidays as cost-cutting measures is Magufuli’s rushed attempt to finally deliver on former statesmen Julius Nyerere’s vision of self-reliance, accountability and good governance.
The main issue that threatens Tanzania’s social unity is political instability in Zanzibar. The island experienced political tensions during the election period.
Zanzibar held presidential elections in October last year and the main opposition party, Civic United Front, said it won the election. But the Zanzibar electoral commission annulled the results on grounds they were marred by several irregularities.
The commission called for fresh elections on March 20th this year, but the opposition boycotted because it believed its candidate won the original October 25th election last year.
By: Aviwe Mtila.
Photo: Wikimedia.
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