The April 26 is Tanzania Union Day, Tanzania's police has urged residents of the city of Dar es Salaam to calm down and ignore calls for demonstrations on Union Day tomorrow.
Last year April 26 Tanzani protests have been banned by authorities even though the Tanzanian activist behind it, U.S.-based Mange Kimambi, insists the nationwide protests will go ahead as planned.
The Dar Special Zone police chief, Sweethbert Njwele told an association of bodaboda operators on Wednesday that ‘there will be no demonstrations, Bodabodas are commercial motorcycles commonly used by commuters in East African nations.
Njwele added that the police are ready to deploy and ensure that there is no breach of peace. And everybody should go about their work.
Earlier, police arrested seven people in the south-eastern city of Arusha for their alleged role in planning the anti-government protests.
The city’s deputy police boss, Yusuph Ilembo, told journalists that the government will not allow an illegal protest being planned by a few people to destabilize the country.
The banned protests are specifically against the style of leadership of president John Pombe Magufuli, who is increasingly accused of dictatorial use of his executive powers.
Magufuli who came to power in 2015 has, however, been lauded in the area of anti-corruption and public service delivery. He has fired close allies and heads of utility agencies for failure to protect public interest.
