Police Warn Of Armed ‘Chaos Plan’ To Cripple Nation On Dec.9

Tanzania is heading into a tense week as security agencies step up surveillance and preventive measures ahead of December 9, when the country celebrates its Independence Day. Authorities say they are responding to what they describe as a coordinated plan by groups pushing for “indefinite demonstrations” that police argue are intended to undermine national stability.

In a strongly worded statement yesterday, the Tanzania Police Force warned that orchestrated calls circulating on social media for mass action on December 9 pose a serious threat to public safety, recalling the violence and destruction seen during the November 29 unrest. According to the police, the current mobilisation is not about peaceful protest but a deliberate bid to spark nationwide chaos. Officials say the organisers have posted explicit online instructions, including urging individuals trained in the use of firearms to “take charge” on the day of the planned disorder.

This kind of situation always reflects the delicate choreography between civic expression and state security.