TRANSLATED from Swahili:
STATEMENT BY THE CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON
November 23, 2025, Dar es Salaam.
Greetings & Purpose of the Meeting
Fellow Journalists, we have met here today for one purpose: to discuss issues that have emerged following the breach of the peace on October 29, 2025, and the few days that followed.
You will all remember that October 29, 2025, was the General Election day for the President, Members of Parliament, and Councilors. Tanzanians came out on this day to exercise their Constitutional right to vote and choose the leaders they wanted.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all Tanzanians for using this right effectively, ultimately obtaining President H.E. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, MPs, and Councilors who will lead for a period of five years.
Likewise, I congratulate them on the high turnout. This time, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) made good preparations and was fully funded by the Government of Tanzania (100%). We saw Tanzanians turn out in larger numbers to vote than at any other time, and they were able to vote and finish quickly because the Independent National Electoral Commission organized itself well, prepared many polling stations, and the exercise went smoothly.
Breach of Peace and Violence
Fellow Journalists, on election day, October 29, 2025, and the few days that followed, acts of breach of peace occurred, accompanied by violence perpetrated by some individuals, necessitating that our defense and security organs confront these actions.
Following this violence, we suffered damages including the deaths of civilians and police officers, significant destruction of public infrastructure and private property, destruction of people's businesses, and theft.
I wish to repeat the statement made by Her Excellency the President during the inauguration of the 13th Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania, offering deep condolences to all families who lost their loved ones. Let us all pray for the deceased to rest in eternal peace. Amen.
Likewise, I take this opportunity to offer sympathies to all who suffered various injuries resulting from those violent acts, including physical injuries, loss of property and businesses, loss of employment, and other damages I cannot list entirely. May Almighty God heal your pain and, Insha'Allah, restore you to strength.
Commission of Inquiry
The President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, has already formed an Independent Commission of Inquiry into the events that took place on election day and the days that followed after being sworn in. This Commission is led by the Retired Chief Justice of Tanzania, Hon. Mohammed Chande Othman, and will work for three months.
Misinformation and International Media
Fellow Journalists, as we continue to wait for this Commission to complete its work, a large wave of foreign media outlets has emerged, publishing and broadcasting one-sided reports. At times, they distort this information to incite hatred among Tanzanians against the Government and cause conflict among Tanzanians themselves based on political, religious, and regional differences.
I wish to repeat: The Government and Government leaders, including the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, are saddened and deeply hurt by those events and their consequences. These consequences have touched us all, either directly or indirectly.
Continuing to celebrate those events or inciting people by broadcasting and publishing content meant to cause panic, mislead, or anger people—as foreign media, activists, or people with political interests are doing—has no benefit to our Nation other than adding salt to people's wounds.
Therefore, on behalf of the Government, I wish to state the following:
Continue with that stance. As I said, the country has faced challenges that are not in the broader interests of the Nation. What you are doing is "Responsible Journalism," Which embarks on reporting news accurately, fairly, and accountably. That is verifying facts, avoiding bias and conflict of interest, and being transparent about sources and mistakes.
To All Tanzanians: I take this opportunity to urge you to avoid cheering for and spreading information or news that incites hostility, anger, and breaks our National unity.
I ask Tanzanians to realize the trap set to destroy our Nation. We are passing through a period where, if we entertain the incitement by people outside the country—who are not affected by anything in our lives—who are persuading our youth to commit acts that hurt our country, the ones who will suffer are us. We will truly suffer if we joke around.
It is good for you to know that we are in a period called "Information Warfare." Those who do not wish us well are using the information gap to provoke us into fighting, creating conflict, and sowing discord so that, when we are ruined, they can advance their interests, which are largely political and economic. They are using a strategy called "The weaponization of narrative"—weaponizing narratives to portray Tanzania as a bad, dangerous, unsafe, and unsuitable country. They want visitors, including investors, business people, and tourists, to fear coming to Tanzania.
When I say this, I am not mincing words. You have all seen online campaigns started with the aim of hurting our economy: threatening tourists not to come to Tanzania, threatening investors to fear investing in Tanzania, threatening business people to fear routing their cargo through Tanzania, and many other things aimed at collapsing the economy so the country enters into problems that will hurt Tanzanians and benefit our economic competitors.
Some of the negative tactics they use include creating fake content and spreading it online. For example, just yesterday, they made a fake quote quoting me, the Chief Government Spokesperson, claiming I said that any Journalist quoting reports from one international media outlet and incitement videos would be charged with treason. I did not say these words; they fabricated them.
They created another fake quote of H.E. President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, claiming she ordered that a Journalist from a neighboring country working for an international media outlet be arrested and charged with treason.
I ask Tanzanians to refuse to allow these things. The Hon. President has already said the Government is ready to listen to all those with grievances, advice, and questions. All will be received and worked on. There is no reason to destroy the country.
Others are going so far as to fabricate lies that our payment systems and deposit accounts with banks and financial institutions are unsafe. THIS IS PURE LIES and should be ignored.
I wish Tanzanians to recognize that the goals of these people—creating provocation, inciting on social media and in the press, angering people to destroy their country—are to COLLAPSE TANZANIA'S ECONOMY, DESTROY OUR BUSINESSES, REDUCE TOURISTS SO WE LACK FUNDS, and worse, they want Tanzania to be humiliated so our trade competitors can benefit.
It is important to recognize that this is an economic war; news (via media and social media) is just a conduit. If we allow this trap, the ones affected will be all of us Tanzanians.
I WISH TO REPEAT: As I said earlier, those events happened for a few days and in a few cities of our country. Currently, the situation is calm, and Tanzanians are continuing with their activities as usual. Our defense and security organs continue to ensure people and their property remain safe and all security threats are dealt with effectively.
Economic Progress and Strategic Projects
Our economic activities are continuing well, and Tanzania is currently one of the few countries taking major economic strides through large, ongoing strategic projects, with others already being completed and providing services.
Projects such as:
Tourism & Aviation:
When we are attacked like this, we will be affected as a country and as individuals. If the ports are affected, we will lack revenue, fail to buy medicine, build roads, supply water, supply electricity, and fund education, health, and other essential services. If tourism falls, we citizens will lack jobs, food vendors (Mama Lishe) will lose business, taxi drivers will be affected, and jobs will be lost.
WAKE UP, TANZANIANS.
Message to Tourists
To our prestigious tourists, these are the few words from the government:
"Welcome to the United Republic of Tanzania. Our nation remains peaceful, calm, and open to all who wish to explore its beauty—from Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti to Ngorongoro, Dar es Salaam, and Zanzibar, to mention a few. Please ignore any misinformation meant to distract you from the unforgettable experiences awaiting you here.
Our destinations are safe, our accommodations are improving every day, and our hospitality and transportation ensure that your journey is comfortable and memorable.
The government is fully committed to protecting you, your companions, and the value of your dollars and shillings while visiting our country."
Conclusion regarding CNN
Finally, yesterday I issued a public notice after CNN published an article on the events of October 29, 2025. Verification of the article's content is ongoing, but, as this outlet has done in its various reports, it has continued to commit professional and ethical errors in journalism by broadcasting and publishing content that leans to one side. It is not true that CNN failed to get the Government's side in all the reports it releases.
It is surprising for an international media outlet like CNN to commit such major ethical errors. The Government calls on CNN to observe ethical and professional standards in journalism and to avoid publishing information from unverified or unofficial sources, misleading information, or content that causes panic.
I know the CNN journalist who prepared that article was not in Tanzania and used photos sent by phone during the violence, without communicating with the relevant authorities in Tanzania, and went ahead to prepare a one-sided article. We would not like to reach the point of calling them the names that some who were offended by them have used; let them come, we will give them the Government's side so they can publish reports with balance, truth, and without conflict of interest. Let them stop choosing to report one side while the other side exists and has not denied them information.
Having said that, I wish to repeat my assurance to Tanzanians and all people in the World that Tanzania is safe, Tanzania is calm, people are continuing with their activities as usual, and what happened during the General Election is being investigated, and the results will be acted upon.
Fellow Journalists, let us continue to guard our country with great jealousy. The development we are achieving now offends some people, and they will seek every way to bring us down. LET US REFUSE.
STATEMENT BY THE CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON
November 23, 2025, Dar es Salaam.
Greetings & Purpose of the Meeting
Fellow Journalists, we have met here today for one purpose: to discuss issues that have emerged following the breach of the peace on October 29, 2025, and the few days that followed.
You will all remember that October 29, 2025, was the General Election day for the President, Members of Parliament, and Councilors. Tanzanians came out on this day to exercise their Constitutional right to vote and choose the leaders they wanted.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all Tanzanians for using this right effectively, ultimately obtaining President H.E. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, MPs, and Councilors who will lead for a period of five years.
Likewise, I congratulate them on the high turnout. This time, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) made good preparations and was fully funded by the Government of Tanzania (100%). We saw Tanzanians turn out in larger numbers to vote than at any other time, and they were able to vote and finish quickly because the Independent National Electoral Commission organized itself well, prepared many polling stations, and the exercise went smoothly.
Breach of Peace and Violence
Fellow Journalists, on election day, October 29, 2025, and the few days that followed, acts of breach of peace occurred, accompanied by violence perpetrated by some individuals, necessitating that our defense and security organs confront these actions.
Following this violence, we suffered damages including the deaths of civilians and police officers, significant destruction of public infrastructure and private property, destruction of people's businesses, and theft.
I wish to repeat the statement made by Her Excellency the President during the inauguration of the 13th Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania, offering deep condolences to all families who lost their loved ones. Let us all pray for the deceased to rest in eternal peace. Amen.
Likewise, I take this opportunity to offer sympathies to all who suffered various injuries resulting from those violent acts, including physical injuries, loss of property and businesses, loss of employment, and other damages I cannot list entirely. May Almighty God heal your pain and, Insha'Allah, restore you to strength.
Commission of Inquiry
The President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, has already formed an Independent Commission of Inquiry into the events that took place on election day and the days that followed after being sworn in. This Commission is led by the Retired Chief Justice of Tanzania, Hon. Mohammed Chande Othman, and will work for three months.
Misinformation and International Media
Fellow Journalists, as we continue to wait for this Commission to complete its work, a large wave of foreign media outlets has emerged, publishing and broadcasting one-sided reports. At times, they distort this information to incite hatred among Tanzanians against the Government and cause conflict among Tanzanians themselves based on political, religious, and regional differences.
I wish to repeat: The Government and Government leaders, including the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, are saddened and deeply hurt by those events and their consequences. These consequences have touched us all, either directly or indirectly.
Continuing to celebrate those events or inciting people by broadcasting and publishing content meant to cause panic, mislead, or anger people—as foreign media, activists, or people with political interests are doing—has no benefit to our Nation other than adding salt to people's wounds.
Therefore, on behalf of the Government, I wish to state the following:
- I call upon foreign media outlets to adhere to ethical principles and journalistic standards by ceasing the publication of one-sided news with malicious intent towards Tanzanians and our country, Tanzania.
- The Government is ready at all times to cooperate with both local and foreign media whenever they require information. I wish to emphasize that it is neither right nor fair for a media outlet to publish one-sided information and then claim that Government officials were sought but not found, as CNN has done by publishing reports full of allegations against the Government of Tanzania without giving the Government a chance to respond.
- Other international media outlets, including the BBC, Al Jazeera, and DW, have also taken action similar to CNN. I insist this is not right, it is not fair, and it violates the principles and ethics of Journalism.
- Since the President has formed an Independent Commission of Inquiry, media outlets must avoid interfering with the ongoing investigation. If a media outlet has investigative information, it should submit it to the Commission so that such information can be considered in the report when the committee completes its work.
Continue with that stance. As I said, the country has faced challenges that are not in the broader interests of the Nation. What you are doing is "Responsible Journalism," Which embarks on reporting news accurately, fairly, and accountably. That is verifying facts, avoiding bias and conflict of interest, and being transparent about sources and mistakes.
To All Tanzanians: I take this opportunity to urge you to avoid cheering for and spreading information or news that incites hostility, anger, and breaks our National unity.
I ask Tanzanians to realize the trap set to destroy our Nation. We are passing through a period where, if we entertain the incitement by people outside the country—who are not affected by anything in our lives—who are persuading our youth to commit acts that hurt our country, the ones who will suffer are us. We will truly suffer if we joke around.
It is good for you to know that we are in a period called "Information Warfare." Those who do not wish us well are using the information gap to provoke us into fighting, creating conflict, and sowing discord so that, when we are ruined, they can advance their interests, which are largely political and economic. They are using a strategy called "The weaponization of narrative"—weaponizing narratives to portray Tanzania as a bad, dangerous, unsafe, and unsuitable country. They want visitors, including investors, business people, and tourists, to fear coming to Tanzania.
When I say this, I am not mincing words. You have all seen online campaigns started with the aim of hurting our economy: threatening tourists not to come to Tanzania, threatening investors to fear investing in Tanzania, threatening business people to fear routing their cargo through Tanzania, and many other things aimed at collapsing the economy so the country enters into problems that will hurt Tanzanians and benefit our economic competitors.
Some of the negative tactics they use include creating fake content and spreading it online. For example, just yesterday, they made a fake quote quoting me, the Chief Government Spokesperson, claiming I said that any Journalist quoting reports from one international media outlet and incitement videos would be charged with treason. I did not say these words; they fabricated them.
They created another fake quote of H.E. President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, claiming she ordered that a Journalist from a neighboring country working for an international media outlet be arrested and charged with treason.
I ask Tanzanians to refuse to allow these things. The Hon. President has already said the Government is ready to listen to all those with grievances, advice, and questions. All will be received and worked on. There is no reason to destroy the country.
Others are going so far as to fabricate lies that our payment systems and deposit accounts with banks and financial institutions are unsafe. THIS IS PURE LIES and should be ignored.
I wish Tanzanians to recognize that the goals of these people—creating provocation, inciting on social media and in the press, angering people to destroy their country—are to COLLAPSE TANZANIA'S ECONOMY, DESTROY OUR BUSINESSES, REDUCE TOURISTS SO WE LACK FUNDS, and worse, they want Tanzania to be humiliated so our trade competitors can benefit.
It is important to recognize that this is an economic war; news (via media and social media) is just a conduit. If we allow this trap, the ones affected will be all of us Tanzanians.
I WISH TO REPEAT: As I said earlier, those events happened for a few days and in a few cities of our country. Currently, the situation is calm, and Tanzanians are continuing with their activities as usual. Our defense and security organs continue to ensure people and their property remain safe and all security threats are dealt with effectively.
Economic Progress and Strategic Projects
Our economic activities are continuing well, and Tanzania is currently one of the few countries taking major economic strides through large, ongoing strategic projects, with others already being completed and providing services.
Projects such as:
- SGR (Standard Gauge Railway): Work is progressing very well on all eight lots starting from Makutupora – Tabora, Tabora – Isaka, Isaka – Mwanza, Tabora – Kigoma, and Kigoma to Burundi.
- New Railway Lines: We are now in preparations for the construction of the Northern line (Tanga-Arusha-Musoma, 1,028 km) and the Southern line (Mtwara-Mbambabay, 1,000 km).
- City Trains (Mono Rail): We are finalizing preparations to start the construction of elevated city trains in our Cities, beginning with Dar es Salaam. We plan to start with Kawe, Mwenge, Mlimani City, Ubungo, then head to Kariakoo and connect with the SGR. We will have another branch from Bibi Titi to Morocco via Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road, then connecting to Mwenge. This is the first phase, and we will place a Station every 2 kilometers. The goal is to build a 160 km network.
- Dodoma City Train: We will also have these City trains in Dodoma, where we plan to build from the SGR station to the City Center, then connect to Mtumba up to Chamwino via the Bus Stand. Phase two will head to Msalato Airport. The goal for Dodoma is to build a 105 km network.
- Dar es Salaam Port: You have all seen that the efficiency at our Dar es Salaam port has doubled, becoming a major threat to our competitors, especially after the Government decided to partner with DP World.
- Cargo handling capacity has doubled from 21 million tons to 32 million tons over 3 years.
- Port revenue has increased from 900 Billion Shillings to over 1.8 Trillion Shillings currently.
- Ships are offloading faster (ship waiting time has reduced from 46 days to 7 days).
- Operational costs have dropped, saving over 400 Billion Shillings compared to before DP World.
- Lake Tanganyika: Just the day before yesterday, we launched 1 out of 4 ships we are building on Lake Tanganyika. These are going to increase major trade between Tanzania and Congo—cargo that was going through neighboring countries will now go directly from Tanzania to Congo. We plan to handle 50 Million tons by 2029, up from the current 32 Million tons (which exceeded expectations of 28 Million tons).
- Mtwara Port: We are building the Kisiwa Mgao port which will handle all "Dirty Cargo" (e.g., Coal, Cement, Iron, Clinker, etc.).
- Tanga Port: We have expanded the port by adding two berths, and many ships are now passing through Tanga; even those that used to use neighboring ports are now using Tanga. We used to handle 400,000 tons, and now we handle 1.5 million tons (this year we will reach 2 million tons). The capacity of Tanga Port is now 3 Million tons per year. We are building 3 more berths and an oil reception terminal.
- Bukoba and Kemondo Ports: Completed.
- Mwanza North Port: We are completing it, meaning Uganda's cargo will pass through Tanzania (currently, we handle only 3%; after this, we will increase to 38%).
- Bagamoyo Port: We are starting construction this December 2025. Construction networks are on the way. This port will have a depth of up to 20 meters and the capacity to receive larger ships than any port in this East African region. We will build 28 berths (starting with 14). The port will be able to handle vessels carrying up to 25,000 containers. LET US ASK OURSELVES, WHO WOULD LIKE THIS?
- Kigoma Port: Construction has started, and the contractor is on site. We will increase its capacity to 3 million tons, up from the current 600,000 tons.
Tourism & Aviation:
- Tourism: We set a goal to increase Tourists to 5 million by 2025; we succeeded in reaching over 5.3 Million. Now we have started the journey to reach 8 Million Tourists. When these tourists increase for us, it means they decrease for our competitors.
- ATCL (Air Tanzania): Our airline has strengthened significantly. We currently have 16 planes, and over the next 10 years, we plan to buy another 8 jets. We currently serve 29 destinations; by the end of this year, we will add another 3: Cape Town (South Africa), Accra (Ghana), and Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe). By 2030, we will reach 50 domestic and international destinations.
- Passengers: We currently serve 1,500,000 passengers and plan to reach 3,000,000 passengers in the next two years. Four years ago, we were transporting only about 800,000 passengers per year.
- Economy: Our economy is also growing well. This year, we plan for it to grow to an average of 6%.
When we are attacked like this, we will be affected as a country and as individuals. If the ports are affected, we will lack revenue, fail to buy medicine, build roads, supply water, supply electricity, and fund education, health, and other essential services. If tourism falls, we citizens will lack jobs, food vendors (Mama Lishe) will lose business, taxi drivers will be affected, and jobs will be lost.
WAKE UP, TANZANIANS.
Message to Tourists
To our prestigious tourists, these are the few words from the government:
"Welcome to the United Republic of Tanzania. Our nation remains peaceful, calm, and open to all who wish to explore its beauty—from Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti to Ngorongoro, Dar es Salaam, and Zanzibar, to mention a few. Please ignore any misinformation meant to distract you from the unforgettable experiences awaiting you here.
Our destinations are safe, our accommodations are improving every day, and our hospitality and transportation ensure that your journey is comfortable and memorable.
The government is fully committed to protecting you, your companions, and the value of your dollars and shillings while visiting our country."
Conclusion regarding CNN
Finally, yesterday I issued a public notice after CNN published an article on the events of October 29, 2025. Verification of the article's content is ongoing, but, as this outlet has done in its various reports, it has continued to commit professional and ethical errors in journalism by broadcasting and publishing content that leans to one side. It is not true that CNN failed to get the Government's side in all the reports it releases.
It is surprising for an international media outlet like CNN to commit such major ethical errors. The Government calls on CNN to observe ethical and professional standards in journalism and to avoid publishing information from unverified or unofficial sources, misleading information, or content that causes panic.
I know the CNN journalist who prepared that article was not in Tanzania and used photos sent by phone during the violence, without communicating with the relevant authorities in Tanzania, and went ahead to prepare a one-sided article. We would not like to reach the point of calling them the names that some who were offended by them have used; let them come, we will give them the Government's side so they can publish reports with balance, truth, and without conflict of interest. Let them stop choosing to report one side while the other side exists and has not denied them information.
Having said that, I wish to repeat my assurance to Tanzanians and all people in the World that Tanzania is safe, Tanzania is calm, people are continuing with their activities as usual, and what happened during the General Election is being investigated, and the results will be acted upon.
Fellow Journalists, let us continue to guard our country with great jealousy. The development we are achieving now offends some people, and they will seek every way to bring us down. LET US REFUSE.
