Tanzania Crackdown on Planned Demonstration Results in Streets Unusually Quiet.
A significant security presence has been deployed throughout the country with police and military seen patrolling key urban areas ahead of expected anti-government protests called to coincide with independence day.
By midday, however, no demonstrations had begun.
Residents in several major urban centers reported an unusually slow start to the day, with a large number opting to stay home amid uncertainty over whether protests would happen.
The protests were organized to call for changes to the political system following October's post-election unrest which left an unknown number of people dead.
Authorities Admit Use of Force
The authorities have admitted employing force against demonstrators, claiming that some groups were attempting to overthrow the regime.
Correspondents noted on Tuesday nearly empty streets in the business hub, Dar es Salaam. This stood in sharp contrast to the city's typical weekday activity.
Although quiet, the atmosphere remained tense.
Heightened Security Across Cities
Armored vehicles were spotted cruising along primary thoroughfares and junctions, while officers took up positions at key points, including around important public buildings and facilities.
On social media, activists and campaigners urged supporters to stay alert, implying that any protest activity would likely commence later in the day. The messaging echoed past mobilization efforts in the country, when participation grew as the day progressed.
Motorists who ventured out reported regular stops at security checkpoints, where officers questioned drivers about where they were headed.
Official Position and Prohibitions
Authorities have not provided detailed comments on the heightened security measures or on the planned protests.
Tanzanian authorities have banned the planned protests and cancelled independence day celebrations, urging citizens to stay indoors.
"An eerie quiet masks the underlying tension felt by those indoors."
The day's events painted a picture of a nation on edge, where the threat of protest resulted in a preemptive security lockdown that effectively emptied normally bustling urban centers.
