The President of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has cancelled Independence Day celebrations scheduled for 9 December to fund dormitories for children with special needs.
The 61st Independence Day event was slated to have an estimated cost of $445,000.
Money will instead be used to build eight dormitories in primary schools around the country – recited a recent statement by the Minister of State, George Simbachawene.
Simbachawene added that the country will celebrate by having debates and conferences on future development.
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This is not the first time Tanzania has cancelled celebrations.
In 2015, former President John Magufuli scrapped the event and diverted funds towards the building of a road in the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam.
In 2020, he did the same to devolve budget towards medical facilities.