Tanzania's president cancels Independence Day celebrations

Samia Suluhu Hassan speaks during a tour of Tanga, Tanzania, on March 16, 2021. [AP photo]

Tanzania's president, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has canceled Independence Day celebrations scheduled for Friday and directed that the budget instead be used to build dormitories for children with special needs.

The 61st Independence Day event was to cost Sh54m ($445,000), money that will be used to build eight dormitories in primary schools around the country.