According to Citizen News on December 8th, Dar es Salaam - Tanzanian Interior Minister George Simbachawene made it clear on December 8th that the planned nationwide event on December 9th, 2025, will be classified as an "attempted coup" rather than a legitimate protest, emphasizing that it has "no legal basis" and calling on the public not to participate outside unless necessary to maintain social stability.
Core characterization: Non protest, considered an "attempted coup"
In a statement, the Minister of Zimbabwe pointed out that the so-called "nationwide demonstrations" are actually "illegal acts attempting to subvert the state". He clearly stated, "These activities have no legal basis and are not legitimate protests, but a serious threat to national order
Illegal reasons: no application, no organization, no clear starting point
The minister listed three core criteria to determine the illegality of the activity:
No written application: No legal assembly application has been submitted to the relevant department;
No known organizer: There is no clear responsible party or leading organization behind the event;
No clear starting point: The so-called "open, nationwide" participation method does not specify where to start or how to organize it.
Public appeal: stay at home to avoid danger, do not participate in illegal activities
In response to the December 9th event, Simba Chawe issued a clear appeal to all citizens:
No need to go out: If there are no urgent matters on the day, stay at home and rest;
Refuse to participate in temptation: Do not be persuaded in any form to "observe or participate" in the activities planned, and avoid getting involved in illegal activities.
Background: Lessons from the violent protests after the October election
This statement is based on the vicious events after the October 29, 2025 election: at that time, demonstrations in many places escalated into violent conflicts, resulting in casualties and causing serious damage to private and public property (including buildings and transportation infrastructure). The minister emphasized that the government will never allow similar incidents to happen again and must maintain national security with a "zero tolerance" attitude.
