FOR any productive activities to continue, a nation must enjoy peace and stability so that everyone can participate freely and peacefully. When violence erupts, it becomes impossible for people to engage in development activities; instead, they are forced to run and hide for their lives.
The events of October 29, 2025, serve as a vivid example of the heavy price a nation can pay when violence breaks out. The unrest disrupted a wide range of activities, including halting transportation, slowing investment, and damaging capital assets.
Some workers lost their jobs after their vehicles were torched, while companies suffered huge losses due to the destruction of investments. Several workers who spoke to the Daily News explained why Tanzanians should always protect the country’s peace and refuse to be drawn into violence again.
Mr Dickson Lutenta, a truck driver, said his truck—already loaded with cargo for a trip to Lusaka—was taken back to the yard for fear of being burned. He said the decision greatly affected his livelihood, as he was unable to travel and earn income to support his family. “Drivers earn money when they are on the road.
By being forced to stay home, it became very difficult for me to get income to run my family and support our daily needs,” he said. He added that it took a long time for businesses to return to normal, as truck owners and other investors became extremely cautious about the security of their assets.
“The October 29 violence affected us deeply. My truck was locked in the yard, making it very difficult for me to work and earn a living,” he said.
He explained that the chaos left a trail of devastation for local entrepreneurs, bringing many businesses to an abrupt halt. Shops, markets, and small enterprises that normally buzzed with activity and commerce were suddenly silenced, leaving owners helpless as days of hardearned income vanished.
Mr Abdalla Mtweve, a daladala driver operating between Mbagala and Mbezi, explained that his business was disrupted for almost five days due to the unrest. He said there were no passengers on the roads, forcing the daladala to remain idle until life returned to normal.
“As a daladala driver, there was no business for almost five days. Even the daladala owners were hesitant to let their vehicles operate,” he added.
From truck drivers, poultry farmers to fruit vendors, butcher shop owners to market traders, countless businesspeople faced losses that ran into millions of shillings, as the uncertainty and unrest made it impossible to operate. For many, the dream of steady earnings and financial stability turned into a nightmare of empty shelves, unsold stock, and mounting debts.
Most of these entrepreneurs, who were servicing loans, found themselves at a crossroads when they were unable to operate as planned. The situation was particularly severe for poultry farmers, butcher shop owners, fruit vendors, and others dealing in perishable goods.
Mr Dismas Sanga, a poultry farmer, told the Daily News that within just five days, he had suffered losses worth millions of shillings. Appearing visibly distressed, Mr Sanga said the October 29 unrest would remain unforgettable in his entrepreneurial journey.
He explained that poultry farming often comes with the usual challenges that farmers have learned to manage over time. However, he said that what happened in October last year was unprecedented, and no one was prepared to deal with such a situation.
“I remember I was supposed to start selling my chickens on October 30, but suddenly the unrest broke out on October 29. My customers, who had already planned to pick up the chickens early in the morning of October 30, could not do so, and I was left with all my chickens,” Mr Sanga said.
He added, “Those who keep chickens will understand me better, they need to be fed and taken care of. So when the time to sell passes, it directly translates into financial losses. That is exactly what happened to me.” Mr Sanga explained that keeping the chickens that were supposed to have been sold cost him around 300,000/- per day.
Fortunately, he had a stock of chicken feed, but it was intended for new chicks he planned to bring in after selling the existing stock. Because he couldn’t sell the chickens on time, he had to continue feeding the adult birds, which represented a significant financial loss. He said the situation got so dire that he started calling relatives to see if they wanted to buy chickens, but most were unwilling to place orders.
“The situation was very bad people were afraid to go outside. Even if they wanted to buy, transporting the chickens was extremely difficult as there was no road transport and people feared venturing out,” he said.
He added that many of his regular customers were unreachable by phone, and those who answered said they could not collect the chickens because their workplaces were closed at the time.
“All bars, nightclubs, cafeterias, and restaurants were closed, which meant losses for most of us,” he said.
He further explained that most of his customers normally collect chickens using motorcycles, but during the unrest, all of them were too afraid to go out.
ALSO READ: Kenya: Popular hub for cocaine smuggling in the region
On his part, Mr Abel Chonjo, who ran a butcher shop in Mbezi Mwisho, described how the violence following the October 29 election completely destroyed his business, wiping out his capital after the meat he had sourced from the abattoir was left hanging for five days. He recounted how his entire investment vanished almost overnight.
“When the violence broke out, we had to flee for our lives. Some of us didn’t even have a chance to store meat in freezers. I left my butcher shop unlocked because there was no time, and you can imagine how tense and chaotic the situation was. Five days later, I returned to find the meat had completely rotten.
Some of it had been eaten by dogs or cats, but remarkably, no one stole anything because there was simply no movement at all in the area,” he said.
Mr Chonjo said the financial impact was devastating. He is now facing enormous debts after being unable to repay loans, compounded by the total loss of his business stock. The experience, he said, was a harsh reminder of the fragility of livelihoods in times of unrest. He emphasized that the October violence should never be repeated and called on all Tanzanians to recognize that peace is the foundation of everyday life and progress.
“I appeal to my fellow Tanzanians: let this never happen again. Let all of us say ‘never again’ to violence. No one can engage in productive work or drive progress when the country is unsettled and peace is absent. I have learned many lessons from last year’s unrest, and I believe most of us have. We must all become vigilant guardians of peace in our country,” he said.
He further urged leaders at all levels to actively engage with citizens, especially the youth, and listen to their concerns. Many Tanzanians face numerous challenges, including unemployment, poverty, and a lack of essential services such as water. Mr Chonjo said it is crucial that leaders address these issues before frustration turns into unrest, to prevent situations like those of last October.
He also appealed to young people to think carefully and critically before taking action, reminding them that the events of October last year benefited no one and instead resulted in the tragic loss of lives and property.
“We lost our brothers and sisters. We lost our businesses, our capital, and our means of livelihood. On top of that, financial institutions are pressing us for repayment. Most of us can no longer provide for our families as we used to. Recovery will take time, and some of us may never fully regain what we lost,” he said.
Moreover, Ms Asia Rashid, a fruit vendor at Buguruni, said the violence that erupted on October 29 last year completely wiped out her business, leaving her without any capital to restart.
She explained that the unrest came at the worst possible time, as she had just received a large consignment of fresh fruits including watermelons and tomatoes, from her suppliers, stock she had purchased through borrowed funds and personal savings. Ms Rashid said she had not planned to operate on October 29, believing it would be a quiet day.
As a result, on October 28 she carefully packed and stored her fruits, intending to reopen her stall on October 30. However, her plans were abruptly disrupted when violence broke out, making it impossible for her to leave her home. Roads were blocked, movement was restricted, and the security situation became dangerously tense.
“I only managed to return to the market after five days, and honestly, I could not believe what I saw,” she recalled. She added: “Everything had rotted. All the fruits were spoiled, and the entire market was filled with a terrible smell. I couldn’t bear the sight. I went back home crying. Up to now, I am struggling, moving from place to place, trying to find capital so that I can stand on my feet again.” She said the experience was not only financially devastating but also emotionally draining, as her livelihood depended entirely on daily sales.
ALSO READ: ARMFA appoints Tanzanian as new president for two-year term
Without income during those days, basic household needs became difficult to meet.
Ms Rashid urged Tanzanians to ensure that the events of October 29 are never repeated, emphasizing that low-income earners and small traders suffer the most whenever peace is disrupted.
“Some of us survive by going out every single day to earn just enough to buy food and take care of our families, when chaos erupts, there is no movement and no business. That simply means starving,” she said.
She added that women entrepreneurs were among the hardest hit by the unrest, noting that many food vendors lost their entire capital and were forced to shut down their businesses. As a result, many are now burdened with debts owed to savings groups and financial institutions, with little hope of immediate recovery.
“We are appealing to all Tanzanians to come together and say no to violence. Peace is the only foundation on which small businesses like ours can survive and grow,” she said.
Earlier, speaking to Daily News some community leaders and social political analysts warned that unrest undermines both social cohesion and economic development.
The Coordinator of the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC), Mr Onesmo Olengurumwa, said the country should avoid a repeat of the violence and unrest witnessed on October 29, highlighting that lasting solutions require dialogue, accountability, and respect for the law. Mr Olengurumwa said that all political parties, both in government and in opposition, have a crucial role in ensuring peace and political stability.
“Those in power have a responsibility to strengthen systems, uphold justice, and create platforms for dialogue. Opposition parties have a duty to demand rights through legal means and guide their supporters to follow the law. Parties are not enemies; they are political competitors who must coexist for the benefit of the nation,” he said.
He also stressed that Tanzania’s Constitution recognizes the right of citizens to demonstrate, but this right must be exercised within legal frameworks, peacefully, and responsibly. “Global experience shows that when protests are properly led and managed, they promote accountability without disturbing peace,” he added.