Tanzania: Heavy security deployed amid Independence Day protest fears

Tanzania's major cities came to a standstill on Tuesday as heavily armed police and military forces flooded the streets ahead of anticipated anti-government demonstrations planned to coincide with independence day celebrations. Despite the massive security presence, no significant protests materialized by evening.

The unprecedented lockdown transformed bustling urban centers including Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mbeya, and Mwanza into ghost towns. Residents overwhelmingly chose to stay home amid widespread uncertainty about whether demonstrations would actually occur. The commercial capital's typically congested streets stood eerily empty—a jarring departure from normal weekday activity.

The planned protests were organized to demand political reforms following deadly post-election violence in October that claimed an undisclosed number of lives. Authorities have acknowledged using force against demonstrators, alleging some groups attempted to overthrow the government.

Police spokesperson David Misime sought to reassure citizens, stating that the situation remained calm nationwide and urging people to disregard old photographs and videos circulating on social media falsely depicting ongoing protests. However, the visible security apparatus told a different story—armed officers stationed at strategic locations and security vehicles patrolling major intersections maintained an atmosphere of palpable tension.

Public transportation ceased operations entirely, while motorists brave enough to venture out faced frequent roadblock checks and questioning about their destinations. The government banned the planned demonstrations outright and cancelled traditional independence day celebrations, instructing citizens to remain indoors.

The response from residents revealed deep divisions. "We will move out, it is our right to protest," one Arusha resident told the BBC, acknowledging the heavy police presence but insisting demonstrators had plans. Meanwhile, a Mwanza woman expressed concern for her family's safety and her hospitalized husband, pleading for protesters to abandon their plans for the sake of peace.

Social media activists suggested any demonstrations would likely begin in the afternoon, a pattern consistent with previous Tanzanian protests that gained momentum later in the day.

The crisis extended beyond Tanzania's borders, with several activists arrested in Kenya's capital Nairobi while holding a solidarity protest outside the Tanzanian high commission. The government has remained largely silent on both the security measures and the protest demands.