Assistant Director for Human Rights at the Ministry of Constitution and Legal Affairs, Beatrice Edward Mpembo, said the commission was set up by President Samia Suluhu Hassan on November 18, 2025, to investigate what happened, examine root causes and advise the government on solutions.

The commission is chaired by retired Chief Justice Mohamed Chande Othman and includes eight other commissioners. It is mandated to assess issues such as youth grievances, opposition actions, security responses and possible financing behind the violence , and to recommend reforms to strengthen reconciliation and democratic institutions.

Authorities said the process includes public participation through a website and hearings, and that the commission’s report is expected in April 2026 after an extension.

Based on its work, Tanzania has proposed a National Reconciliation Initiative and announced other measures, including pardons for 1,787 youths convicted of minor offences linked to the unrest and the creation of a new Youth Ministry to address unemployment and skills development.

In its petition, filed on December 3, LHRC says the shutdown violated provisions of the treaty that require member states to uphold human rights, good governance, transparency and accountability. The organisation is asking the court to declare the blackout unlawful and to bar the government from imposing future internet shutdowns without legal justification or a court order.

“The blackout had far-reaching economic and social repercussions,” said LHRC lawyer Peter Majanjara. “It paralysed online banking, disrupted digital health services and denied citizens access to critical information during a crucial election period,” he added.

Majanjara said the government’s explanation that the shutdown was meant to prevent violence failed to meet democratic standards of legality, necessity and proportionality.

Internet and mobile data services were cut nationwide without prior notice on election day, leaving Tanzania digitally isolated for seven days as voters elected councillors, MPs and a president in both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.

Government spokesperson Gerson Msigwa has defended the move, saying it was aimed at stopping online criminals who were allegedly spreading inflammatory content and inciting violence. He said such activities had led to deaths, injuries and property destruction.

The Attorney General is expected to respond to the case within 45 days of receiving the court documents.

According to the charge sheet, prosecutors allege that Kimambi obtained the money in March 2022 in Dar es Salaam, knowing it was the proceeds of crime. They also claim she earned it by working as a journalist without accreditation and by “demanding money through intimidation.” The case is set for mention on December 4 at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court.

Kimambi confirmed in a video posted on December 2 that she had been notified of the charges, saying the government wants to force her return to Tanzania. The charges fall under the Anti-Money Laundering Act and the Economic and Organised Crime Control Act.

A former model, Kimambi became a prominent activist during the late President John Magufuli’s administration and later mobilised the recent 29 October anti-government protests from abroad. She has long pushed for electoral reforms, a new constitution and stronger safeguards for civil liberties . Although she once publicly supported President Samia Suluhu Hassan, she has since become one of the administration’s fiercest critics.

Her case comes in the midst of an apparent crackdown on high-profile activists. Earlier in November, Tanzanian influencer Jennifer “Niffer” Jovin was charged with treason, a capital offence, after participating in the viral “Nywinywi” dance challenge, which evolved into a digital protest movement during the general election.

According to the President, the burning of police posts, government buildings and private businesses went far beyond lawful demonstrations. “This was not a protest. These were organised riots with a specific purpose,” she said .

Samia dismissed claims that opposition candidates were barred from participating in the election, saying they withdrew on their own to avoid defeat. She argued that the unrest was partly driven by internal divisions within opposition parties, not government interference.

Youth and foreign actors  

A large number of young people took part in the clashes, which Samia said reflected a lack of proper guidance and political awareness. She insisted many were mobilised under false promises rather than genuine grievances.

“Our youth had no reason to be in the streets; they were simply sent there and made to chant things that were not in their interest.”

She also accused unnamed foreign-based coordinators of supporting the unrest and criticised external pressure on Tanzania following the election, including the EU Parliament’s decision to freeze aid pending a human rights assessment.

Religious voices and governance

The president cautioned religious leaders not to overstep their constitutional roles amid rising religious commentary on the political crisis. “We will run this country by its Constitution and its laws,” she said.

Samia reiterated her commitment to constitutional reform but said the government would proceed gradually. She insisted that Tanzania’s stability remains the priority and that the state was right to intervene forcefully on election day.

Tanzania has cancelled its 9 December Independence Day celebrations following calls for nationwide protests over mass killings linked to the disputed 29 October general election. Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba announced the decision on 24 November, saying funds would instead be used to rebuild infrastructure damaged during last month’s unrest. Opposition parties have urged citizens to use the holiday to protest the government’s handling of the election, in which President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner with 98% of the vote — a result they dismissed as fabricated. Key opposition figures were either detained or barred from running, including Chadema leader Tundu Lissu, who has been held on treason charges since April. Thousands protested the results, with rights groups condemning the security crackdown as violent and repressive. While the government has yet to release a death toll, it has formed a commission of inquiry that opposition leaders fear lacks independence. Nchemba urged Tanzanians to avoid violence and embrace dialogue, saying the country must not “return to what we went through.”

Government accelerates mining reforms for economic transformation

The Ministry of Minerals has launched an initiative to implement directives issued by President Samia Suluhu Hassan to transform the mining sector into a driver of national economic growth and prosperity. Speaking at a management workshop in Dodoma from 24–25 November, Minister for Minerals Anthony Mavunde said the President expects Tanzania’s mineral wealth to be managed in ways that generate tangible benefits for citizens and support development priorities. The directives — drawn from national addresses, the ruling party’s 2025–2030 manifesto, and the government’s early-term commitments — focus on boosting production, increasing value addition, and improving sector efficiency. Mavunde emphasised the need for innovation, discipline, and speed across the ministry and its agencies to meet these goals.

Energy ministry calls for stronger fuel systems and youth opportunities

Deputy Minister for Energy Salome Makamba has directed the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) to improve the efficiency of fuel transportation networks to address recurring national fuel shortages. During a working session with EWURA officials in Dodoma, she underscored the importance of expanding fuel storage capacity to safeguard supply and encouraged the regulator to explore ways to reduce the cost of household electrical installation materials to accelerate rural electrification. Makamba also highlighted the need to create more opportunities for young people in the energy sector. EWURA Director General Dr James Andilile reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to ensuring service quality, safety, efficiency, and good governance while implementing presidential directives.

AfDB approves $24.6 million loan to boost Tanzania’s agro-industrial growth

The African Development Bank Group has approved a $24.6 million senior corporate loan to Mohammed Enterprises Tanzania Limited (MeTL) to modernise and expand the country’s agro-industrial production. The investment will rehabilitate ageing tea estates, convert more than 1,000 hectares into organic plantations, and upgrade processing factories to double production capacity. It will also establish 15,000 hectares of sisal plantations and a new 200-hectare macadamia farm, while improving rural infrastructure and strengthening value chains connecting smallholder farmers to global markets. The project is expected to create over 1,400 jobs, generate more than $10 million in new annual export earnings, and contribute approximately $36 million in fiscal revenues. AfDB officials say the initiative strengthens Tanzania’s agricultural resilience and supports inclusive growth, particularly for women farmers. The funding forms part of a broader $74.7 million programme co-financed by ILX B.V. and MeTL equity.

Construction of long-delayed Bagamoyo port to begin in December

Tanzania will begin construction of the long-awaited Bagamoyo port in December, ending more than a decade of delays caused by disputes over earlier contract terms with foreign developers. Government spokesperson Gerson Msigwa said the port — part of a larger special economic zone project that includes industrial parks and transport links — will initially begin with 14 berths, eventually expanding to 28. The deep-water port, located 75 km north of Dar es Salaam, is designed to accommodate larger vessels than any other port in East Africa, with a planned depth of 20 meters. Tanzania originally signed a framework agreement with China Merchants Holdings International and Oman’s State General Reserve Fund in 2013, but the project stalled after the government rejected unfavourable terms. President Samia Suluhu Hassan revived negotiations after taking office in 2021, positioning the $10 billion project as key to boosting trade capacity and regional maritime influence. The port’s revival comes as Tanzania faces economic pressures and strained regional trade relations following a contentious and widely criticised election period.

Wanu, 43, is the MP for Makunduchi Constituency in Zanzibar, while Mchengerwa, 46, represents Rufiji Constituency in the Pwani Region.

The reshuffle also brought back another political family name, with former President Jakaya Kikwete’s son Ridhwani Kikwete appointed Minister for Public Service Management and Good Governance in the President’s Office.

Ridhwani, 46, serves as MP for Chalinze in Pwani and is a member of the ruling CCM party. His father is widely seen as a key figure in Samia's rise within the party and to the presidency.

Other appointments include Khamis Mussa Omar as Minister for Finance, replacing Mwigulu Nchemba, who became Prime Minister last week, and Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, who was retained as Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation.