President Samia Suluhu Hassan has urged Tanzanians to draw lessons from the violence that followed the October 29, 2025 General Election, stressing that the country’s future lies firmly in the hands of its own citizens and not external actors.
Speaking on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at State House in Dar es Salaam after receiving the official investigative report on the incidents, President Samia said instability cannot be a pathway to solving national challenges.
“Let us understand that the destiny of Tanzania is in our own hands. External influence can contribute to disrupting peace and security, but rebuilding our country depends on conditions attached to political, economic and trade assistance. Therefore, we must be careful that it is Tanzanians who build Tanzania,” she said.
She cautioned that destruction is easier to trigger than reconstruction, warning against actions that could destabilize the country.
“When we destroy Tanzania, there is no ‘uncle’ who will come to help us. We may get loans with conditions to rebuild, but during destruction, assistance may come easily. That is why we must be responsible in protecting our nation,” she said.
The President emphasized that violence and unrest cannot provide solutions to social, economic, or political challenges, urging citizens to prioritize dialogue and national cohesion instead.
She further encouraged Tanzanians to reflect on the lessons learned from the post-election unrest, saying the events should serve as a turning point for strengthening unity and resilience.
President Samia also drew inspiration from the late South African leader Nelson Mandela, who emphasized the importance of learning from both positive and difficult experiences.
Mandela’s philosophy, she noted, reinforces the idea that nations grow stronger when they learn from challenges rather than being divided by them.
“We must learn from both pleasant and unpleasant experiences. Tanzania has learned from the October 29 events, and we must now hold together so that we become stronger,” she said.
The report presented to the President outlines findings on the causes and impact of the 2025 post-election violence, which is expected to inform national reconciliation efforts and future preventive measures aimed at safeguarding peace and stability.
