Tanzania marks peace day amid election calls for calm

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania will join the world in marking the International Day of Peace on September 21, 2025, with this year’s commemoration carrying special weight as the country approaches the General Election.

Calls for calm have grown louder from both national leaders and grassroots groups, highlighting the importance of safeguarding harmony as political competition intensifies.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi have both placed peace at the heart of their campaign messages.

Speaking in Makunduchi, Zanzibar, on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, President Hassan urged Tanzanians to embrace unity during the election period, saying: “Peace is the foundation of our democracy. Without it, no election, no development, and no progress can take place.”

President Mwinyi echoed her message, reminding citizens that Tanzania’s tradition of tolerance and cohesion must never be taken for granted.

“We must all stand guard to protect our peace. It is our greatest strength as a nation,” he said.

Their remarks set the tone for this year’s International Day of Peace events in Tanzania, which opened on September 18, 2025, with the second Youth, Peace and Security Forum in Dar es Salaam.

The three-day forum has drawn young people from across the country, alongside religious leaders, diplomats, civil society groups, and government officials.

Its theme, ‘Youth and Peace: Take Action Now to Sustain a Culture of Peace’, highlights the role of young people in shaping a stable future.

The African Leadership Initiative for Impact (ALII), Executive Director, Mr Joseph Malekela, said the forum would address four priorities: youth participation in decision-making, the role of young people in digital spaces, economic empowerment as a safeguard against crime, and youth-led climate action.

“Young people make up the majority of Tanzania’s population. When empowered on peace and security, they become the backbone of a resilient nation,” Mr Malekela said.

He revealed the forum would end with a peace walk from Coco Beach to the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JKCI) as a public demonstration of unity.

The Ministry of Labour, Youth, Employment, and Persons with Disabilities has also pledged support.

The Director of Employment Services in the Prime Minister’s Office, Ms Josephine Matiro, reminded participants that the duty to protect peace lies with every citizen.

“Peace and security are everyone’s responsibility. I call on young people to make this their priority in all they do,” she said.

The African Union’s Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security, Dr Liberata Mulamula, has warned that global peace is increasingly fragile and that Tanzania cannot afford to be complacent.

“You cannot speak of development or security without involving young people. Some may ask why we need peace strategies when Tanzania is not at war. But peace is not just the absence of conflict. It can be eroded when young people are drawn into drugs, crime, or extremism,” she cautioned.

She urged the government to align youth strategies with regional and continental frameworks.

For many young participants, the forum has already been eye-opening.

A student at the Dr Salim Ahmed Salim Institute, Marian Choga, said she had learnt the importance of rejecting violence.

“This forum has taught us to seize opportunities, build our livelihoods, and resist anyone who seeks to use us to disrupt peace,” she said.

Others emphasised that economic empowerment is a key peace tool, with one participant saying, “If young people have sustainable economic activities, they are less likely to be influenced into destructive behavior.”

In Zanzibar, officials echoed the call, with a representative from the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture, and Sports, Mr Shafii Kasim, saying young people must resist manipulation during political campaigns.

“Our youth should be frontline educators on peace and security, spreading awareness in their communities. That is how we build a stronger nation,” he said.

With the election drawing near, President Hassan’s call serves as a reminder that democracy cannot thrive without harmony.

Peace, she insisted, is not only a national treasure but also the foundation of the country’s hopes and aspirations.