Many Tanzanians were left frustrated and disappointed on Monday after being unable to watch the live broadcast of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s swearing-in ceremony.
The event, held in Dodoma, marked a historic moment in the nation’s political journey, but technical and access challenges prevented millions from witnessing it in real time.
According to reports, several national television and radio stations experienced unexpected signal interruptions minutes before the ceremony began. Viewers across major cities including Dar es Salaam, Arusha, and Mwanza reported blackout screens and disrupted audio feeds that lasted for more than an hour.
Online live streams on official government and media platforms also crashed due to high traffic, leaving many citizens dependent on social media updates.
The Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) later issued a statement attributing the blackout to a “major transmission failure” that affected satellite connections. The state broadcaster apologized to the public, promising to upload the full ceremony recording later in the day.
Despite the disruption, crowds gathered outside public offices, markets, and community centers to follow snippets of the proceedings through mobile updates and word of mouth. Opposition leaders and citizens expressed their disappointment, saying the failure undermined the importance of such a national event meant to unite the country.
President Samia Suluhu’s swearing-in marked the beginning of her new term after securing victory in the recent general election. The event drew dignitaries, regional leaders, and foreign diplomats, symbolizing Tanzania’s continued commitment to democracy and peaceful transition of power.
Many Tanzanians have since called for improved national broadcasting infrastructure to ensure future state events are accessible to all citizens without interruption.
By Kenyans