Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 25 November 2025 — Tanzania’s Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba has said the violent unrest that erupted during the October 29 elections was “a deliberate attempt to sabotage the country’s economy,” stating that the full extent of the damage is yet to be quantified.
Addressing news editors at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, Nchemba said Tanzania’s ambitious development agenda, which includes the construction of a regional standard gauge railway (SGR), has made the country a target for those seeking to destabilise economic progress.
The SGR, a high-speed modern railway intended to replace the ageing meter-gauge system, will link major Tanzanian cities and eventually connect with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi.
“For you to know that this is economic sabotage, they are even telling tourists not to come to Tanzania. And tourists are not government property,” Nchemba said.
Preliminary government assessments presented by the prime minister reveal widespread destruction of public infrastructure, including 756 government offices, 27 bus rapid transit (BRT) stations, six buses, 159 police stations, and 976 public vehicles and ambulances.
Private citizens and businesses also suffered heavy losses as 1,642 cars, 2,268 motorbikes, 273 homes, and 672 fuel stations were vandalised or destroyed.
“These fuel stations are not there because of the owners; they are essential for transportation,” Nchemba said, stressing that the figures represent early findings and that the true scale of the losses may be significantly higher.
Among the private businesses destroyed were 38 fuel stations owned by Lake Oil Group, a regional energy company operating in Tanzania, Burundi, Ethiopia, and Zambia. The firm reported that the destruction has disrupted operations for 300 employees.
Meanwhile, Malawi’s former president Lazarus Chakwera concluded a four-day mission in Tanzania last Friday. He had been appointed by Commonwealth Secretary General Hon. Shirley Botchwey as the Commonwealth Special Envoy to Tanzania on Nov. 17, tasked with initiating dialogue with political actors to help address concerns arising from the elections, and to support national reconciliation efforts.
Chakwera said he was honoured to serve, adding that rebuilding trust at home and abroad is essential for Tanzania as it seeks to maintain the confidence of development partners and investors.
“The reconciliation effort is strongly backed by the Tanzanian government and is key to strengthening bilateral relations with development partners,” Chakwera said.
Nchemba continued with a passionate appeal to Tanzanians, encouraging them to eschew violence and embrace peace, warning that the country risks self-destruction if the violence continues.
“Tanzania, wake up. Yes, we have our issues. We may have grievances, but let’s not burn our country,” he cautioned.
