FOR decades, Tanzania has been widely regarded as an island of peace and stability in a region often confronted by uncertainty. This reputation has not come by chance.
It has been sustained through strong institutions, responsible leadership and, crucially, a working relationship between citizens and the country’s security organs. The key to this relationship is trust—trust that the Police Force and other security agencies act in the national interest and trust that citizens will cooperate in safeguarding peace, tranquillity and national unity.
The regrettable incidents of violence on October 29 and 30, as well as the events surrounding December 9, 2025, underscored why this trust remains indispensable.
While the violent incidents in some regions disrupted peace and resulted in loss of life and the destruction of public and private property, leaving an indelible mark on the country’s otherwise commendable history, the manner in which security organs prevented similar incidents on December 9 demonstrated Tanzania’s unmatched prowess in maintaining peace and order.
Through early preparedness, reinforced security deployment and timely communication, the Police Force, working closely with other defence and security organs, successfully prevented unlawfully planned demonstrations on Independence Day that threatened to disrupt economic and social life.
Between December 8 and 10, the Force issued regular updates after every six hours, keeping citizens informed about the security situation across the country, an approach that helped calm anxieties, counter misinformation and reinforce public confidence. The importance of such professionalism cannot be overstated.
Commenting on the broader significance of peace and stability, Professor of Economics and Founding Director of the Centre for Chinese Studies at the University of Dar es Salaam, Prof Humphrey Moshi, noted that recent post-election unrest had offered a sobering lesson.
While regrettable for the country’s global image, he said, it reaffirmed a fundamental truth: peace and stability form the bedrock of economic and social development.
Without them, progress becomes unattainable. Prof Moshi warned against allowing Tanzania to slide into the category of conflict-prone nations, stressing that challenges should be resolved through dialogue rather than violence.
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His remarks echo a widely held view among experts, that security is not merely about enforcing law and order, but about creating an environment in which citizens can work, invest and plan for the future with confidence. At the community level, similar sentiments have been expressed.
The Local Government Authority Chairperson for Mwongozo Street in Makuburi Ward, Ubungo District, Peppino Sudi, praised the move to reinforce security, describing it as vital to preserving national peace and stability.
Mr Sudi urged citizens to give the government time to implement commitments made during election campaigns and cautioned against actions that could plunge the country into chaos, the consequences of which would be severe for all.
Such views highlight the essence of community policing, a model built on partnership, mutual respect and shared responsibility.
When citizens see the police as protectors rather than adversaries, cooperation improves. Information flows more freely, crime prevention becomes more effective and potential threats are addressed before they escalate.
Community policing only thrives where trust exists and trust grows where transparency, accountability and regular communication are practised.
This was evident in the Police Force’s handling of the December 9 situation. Following announcements on December 3 and 5, 2025, prohibiting unlawful demonstrations, the Force cited credible intelligence pointing to 13 strategies aimed at disrupting economic and social activities, many of them coordinated through online platforms.
By acting early and explaining the rationale behind its decisions, the Police Force demonstrated foresight and responsibility, prioritising the safety of citizens and the continuity of national life.
Ordinary citizens are acknowledging the benefits of this approach. Ms Sophia Kambona, a Dar es Salaam resident, commended the government and security organs for strengthening security through coordinated efforts between the Police Force and the Tanzania People’s Defence Force.
She observed that economic activities flourish when peace prevails and warned young people against being lured into acts that could undermine stability and development.
According to Police Force Spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) David Misime, the security situation remains stable nationwide and economic and social activities continue smoothly in a peaceful environment.
DCP Misime insists that safeguarding peace is a shared responsibility requiring cooperation among security organs, citizens and other stakeholders. He cautions against narratives designed to sow division and hatred, noting that such efforts, seen in various parts of the world, often lead to undesirable consequences.
His call for vigilance, lawful conduct and mutual responsibility reflects a broader understanding that national security extends beyond uniforms and patrols; it depends on the collective conscience of the nation. Trust in security organs, therefore, is not blind allegiance; it is informed confidence grounded in performance, transparency and shared values.
As Tanzania continues its journey of development, maintaining strong relations between citizens and the police through community policing will remain key preserving peace, tranquillity and national unity.
Thus, in choosing cooperation over confrontation and dialogue over disorder, Tanzanians reaffirm a legacy built over generations and secure a stable future for those yet to come.
Scholars of state–society relations often draw on Max Weber’s theory of legitimate authority, which holds that public order is sustained not through force alone, but through citizens’ belief in institutional legitimacy. When security organs are viewed as lawful, professional and acting in the national interest, compliance becomes voluntary.
In Tanzania, this legitimacy has long supported social cohesion, even during periods of political tension. From a policy standpoint, Samuel Huntington’s concept of institutionalisation, outlined in Political Order in Changing Societies, explains why trust in security organs is vital. Huntington argues that stability depends on strong, disciplined and predictable institutions capable of managing social pressures.
Where such institutions exist, citizens are more likely to pursue grievances lawfully rather than through violence. Security analysts also reference Robert Putnam’s theory of social capital, presented in Bowling Alone, which identifies trust and civic cooperation as foundations of stable societies.
High trust between citizens and state institutions improves information sharing and collective action.
In Tanzania, community policing embodies this principle, converting public trust into an effective tool for crime prevention. The value of transparency aligns with Jürgen Habermas’s theory of communicative action, which holds that legitimacy grows through reasoned public communication.
Regular and clear updates by security organs, particularly during sensitive periods, reduce uncertainty and counter misinformation, strengthening public consent rather than reliance on coercion.
Finally, John Galtung’s concept of positive peace, articulated in Peace by Peaceful Means, broadens the understanding of stability. Peace, he argues, is not merely the absence of violence but the presence of just and inclusive social systems. Trust in security organs supports this positive peace by fostering safety, economic activity and national unity, key pillars of Tanzania’s long-term development.
For Tanzania, sustaining such trust remains central to safeguarding peace, security and long-term development.