Tanzania’s president makes Jesus famous in her address to parliament
Tanzania’s president has granted pardon to mob-driven election protestors currently in custody, ordering they be released to their families.
The president of Tanzania, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, has granted pardon to mob-driven election protestors currently in custody, instructing the country’s law enforcement authorities to counsel them then release them to their families.
In her speech, the president explains her reason for this pardon by quoting the gospel of Luke from the Bible’s New Testament:
Luke 23:34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
The Christian community in the country has commended pastor Anthony Kapola, famously known as pastor Tony, for leading the nation in prayer for those held in custody after the election protests.
During his ministry’s first Sunday service since the country’s lockdown on 9 November 2025, pastor Tony urged his congregation to pray that the government approves an agenda to release the young people caught in the election protests – emphasising that they are the future of this nation and keeping them in prison would be killing the nation’s vision.
Tanzania’s President pardons election protesters
In her address to Parliament, President Hassan took decisive steps to steer the nation beyond protest and towards unity. Central to her speech were pardons for some of those detained in the October election unrest.
The president ordered the release of young people who were arrested during the post-election protests and may have participated under peer pressure.
She said: “As a mother, I forgive those who followed the wave; let them be counselled and released.
She also formed an independent commission to investigate the killings during the unrest and the root causes of the violence.
What the new term holds under president Hassan
During this address to the Parliament on 14 November 2025, Tanzania sat at the edge of its seat in anticipation of what president Hassan will say.
The aftermath of burnt down businesses and broken hearts had become a bad dream Tanzanians desperately want to forget.
In her speech, the president revealed that her administration will embark on constitutional reforms within the first 100 days, in response to demands by the main opposition party.
She also pledged to focus on economic stability, job creation for the youth of Tanzania and improvements in public service delivery.
She also emphasised that Tanzanians must “move from protest to production” and leverage the peace for shared growth.
“Let us leave the anger behind…” – A president’s call for forgiveness and peace
President Hassan sought to heal divisions by urging the people of Tanzania to listen, respect one another and engage in community rebuilding.
She stressed that forgiveness must go hand-in-hand with responsibility and asked religious leaders, civil society and youth groups to play active roles.
She said: “Let us leave the anger behind and build our future together.”
The election protests that spanned from 29th to 31st October 2025 brought Tanzania to the front pages of international newsoutlets that questioned everything from the nation’s state of democracy to its nickname, “the haven of peace” – but today’s presidential address to the parliament looks to have turned tides.
For South Africans watching from near or far, this address is more than Tanzania’s final page of a rough chapter, it’s a reminder of how societies navigate crisis and seek new paths forward.
When a national leader pardons some of the detained, commits to reform and appeals for unity, the message resonates across borders: democracy, dialogue and dignity matter to us all.