Dar es Salaam Entrepreneurs Call for Peace and Condemn Incitement to Violence

The Dar es Salaam Regional Entrepreneurs’ Association has called on Tanzanians to refrain from acts of violence that could threaten national peace and stability, as well as lead to the destruction of infrastructure and disruption of economic activities.

The entrepreneurs emphasized that violence cannot provide solutions in the pursuit of justice, but instead results in losses, particularly for small-scale traders and entrepreneurs. They strongly condemned acts of incitement allegedly carried out by some politicians, religious leaders, and activists accused of undermining national peace for personal interests.

Speaking to journalists today, December 24, 2025, in Dar es Salaam, the entrepreneurs said they strongly oppose any incitement to violence originating from individuals inside or outside the country for selfish motives, noting that such actions plunge the nation into fear and cause significant economic losses.

Entrepreneur Hussein Banze from Ubungo Municipality said that the violent incidents that occurred on October 30 this year severely affected entrepreneurs, as many were unable to conduct their income-generating activities, while others lost their jobs due to damage to infrastructure.

He added that after closely monitoring the incidents, they discovered that there were individuals operating behind the scenes who were encouraging acts of violence, leading to widespread harm. He stressed that the events had left an important lesson for society that the violation of peace cannot bring development.

Entrepreneur Lucy Peter from Temeke stated that the October 29 incidents were sufficient to serve as a lesson to the public.

“We have witnessed the consequences firsthand and learned that violence does not bring development or peaceful solutions,” she said.

Meanwhile, Bakari Sufiani urged Tanzanian youth, particularly Generation Z, not to listen to individuals who incite violence, including some local leaders, politicians, and social media influencers allegedly exploiting the situation for personal or political gain.

He noted that the main victims of the October 29 violence were businesspeople and small-scale entrepreneurs, who suffered heavy losses due to property destruction and the suspension of economic activities.

“We will continue to raise our voices against incitement. We will condemn activists hiding abroad who incite violence and protests, social media users spreading hatred, politicians who incite violence, and even religious leaders who mix politics with religious platforms,” the statement said.

On his part, Omary Suleiman, a veteran trader at Kinondoni Market, said the violence resulted from deliberate incitement and stressed that it is the responsibility of every Tanzanian to ensure such incidents do not recur.

“Tanzania is me, and I am Tanzania. We call upon all Tanzanians to support these efforts so that the country remains safe, peaceful, and stable,” he said.