McLaren
JF-Expert Member
- Feb 19, 2025
- 1,170
- 3,743
In recent years, it has almost become impossible to see a top Tanzanian leader sit in a room with journalists, take direct questions, and actually answer them fully.
Moments like a Prime Minister facing editors without a script, not blocking tough questions, not rushing off to “another urgent meeting,” and even allowing follow-up questions, these are the rare occasions that make headlines just for happening.
PM Mwigulu Nchemba’s press conference with editors, held on Tuesday afternoon, November 25, 2025, at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) in Dar es Salaam, was one such moment.
Around 70–100 senior editors, journalists, and media house owners from major Tanzanian outlets including Daily News, Uhuru, The Citizen, Mwananchi, ITV, TBC, Clouds, Azam, EATV, BBC Swahili, and DW Swahili were in attendance.
From the outside, the event seemed designed to show a newfound willingness for openness and dialogue, coming just weeks after the heated post-election period.
Here are the five main things that PM Minister said:
Electoral Reforms and the New Constitution Issue
He stated that Tanzania has already carried out many major electoral and governance reforms, but some issues (especially a completely new constitution) require careful, long-term handling.
He strongly criticized demands to draft and adopt a new constitution just three months before an election, asking: “Where in the world has anyone ever written a constitution in three months and then gone straight into an election?” He implied such demands were politically motivated rather than genuine.
Abductions, Disappearances, and Fear of Police
He said society agrees that criminals must be arrested and brought before the law, but the current climate of suspicion and fear must not be allowed to spiral into hatred or violence.
He said President Samia has already formed an independent commission to investigate how the country reached this point and how to fix procedures that breed mistrust, stressing that this is a time for dialogue and improvement, not chaos.
Extensive Damage Caused by Post-Election Violence (October 29, 2025 and following days)
He gave specific figures on the destruction caused by the riots: 1,642 private vehicles damaged or burned, 672 fuel stations vandalized, 2,268 motorcycles/bodaboda destroyed, plus widespread damage to public infrastructure.
He warned that this kind of violence does not only destroy property; it undermines security, scares away investment, harms the economy, and leaves long-lasting trauma in communities.
Number of casualties
When pressed about the exact number of people who died during and after the election, he responded emotionally: “I’m not going to play the game of counting bodies while you ask why I’m talking about buildings, we are talking about human lives!” He urged Tanzanians to respect the sanctity of life, cooperate with the independent commission President Samia has set up, and avoid any new escalation (including rumored protests on December 9), choosing peace and dialogue instead.
Moments like a Prime Minister facing editors without a script, not blocking tough questions, not rushing off to “another urgent meeting,” and even allowing follow-up questions, these are the rare occasions that make headlines just for happening.
PM Mwigulu Nchemba’s press conference with editors, held on Tuesday afternoon, November 25, 2025, at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) in Dar es Salaam, was one such moment.
Around 70–100 senior editors, journalists, and media house owners from major Tanzanian outlets including Daily News, Uhuru, The Citizen, Mwananchi, ITV, TBC, Clouds, Azam, EATV, BBC Swahili, and DW Swahili were in attendance.
From the outside, the event seemed designed to show a newfound willingness for openness and dialogue, coming just weeks after the heated post-election period.
Here are the five main things that PM Minister said:
Electoral Reforms and the New Constitution Issue
He stated that Tanzania has already carried out many major electoral and governance reforms, but some issues (especially a completely new constitution) require careful, long-term handling.
He strongly criticized demands to draft and adopt a new constitution just three months before an election, asking: “Where in the world has anyone ever written a constitution in three months and then gone straight into an election?” He implied such demands were politically motivated rather than genuine.
Abductions, Disappearances, and Fear of Police
He said society agrees that criminals must be arrested and brought before the law, but the current climate of suspicion and fear must not be allowed to spiral into hatred or violence.
He said President Samia has already formed an independent commission to investigate how the country reached this point and how to fix procedures that breed mistrust, stressing that this is a time for dialogue and improvement, not chaos.
Extensive Damage Caused by Post-Election Violence (October 29, 2025 and following days)
He gave specific figures on the destruction caused by the riots: 1,642 private vehicles damaged or burned, 672 fuel stations vandalized, 2,268 motorcycles/bodaboda destroyed, plus widespread damage to public infrastructure.
He warned that this kind of violence does not only destroy property; it undermines security, scares away investment, harms the economy, and leaves long-lasting trauma in communities.
Number of casualties
When pressed about the exact number of people who died during and after the election, he responded emotionally: “I’m not going to play the game of counting bodies while you ask why I’m talking about buildings, we are talking about human lives!” He urged Tanzanians to respect the sanctity of life, cooperate with the independent commission President Samia has set up, and avoid any new escalation (including rumored protests on December 9), choosing peace and dialogue instead.