DAR ES SALAAM, Dec. 11 -- AS Tanzania marks another year of independence, the nation must reflect not only on freedom won in 1961 but on the enduring responsibilities it entails.

Independence is more than a milestone; it is a covenant of sovereignty, self-determination and the shared duty to safeguard our nation.

Recent unrest and growing external pressures underscore that freedom is fragile and must be actively defended through resilience, unity and responsible governance. President Samia Suluhu Hassan, in her address to Dar es Salaams Council of Elders, reminded citizens that the attacks of October 29, 2025, were orchestrated acts meant to destabilise the country.

Her message was clear: protecting peace and infrastructure is a shared...