By Osoro Nyawangah, TANZANIA
The United States has imposed sanctions on one senior Tanzania official it accuses of gross violations of human rights in the country, the US Secretary of State said on Friday, in its latest move to pressure the country to uphold diclining democratic processes and human rights.
The United States has imposed sanctions on one senior Tanzania official it accuses of gross violations of human rights in the country, the US Secretary of State said on Friday, in its latest move to pressure the country to uphold diclining democratic processes and human rights.
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| Paul Makonda |
The US Minister of State, Mike Pompeo, said in a statement that the Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner, Paul Makonda, is blacklisted for gross human rights violations.
The Trump administration recently announced new restrictions on immigrants from Myanmar, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Sudan, and Tanzania that will go into effect next month in an expansion of its controversial travel ban policy.
"The Department of State is publicly designating Paul Christian Makonda under Section 7031(c) of the FY 2020 Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related ProgramsAppropriations Actdue to his involvement in gross violation of human right, which include the flagrant denial of right to life, liberty, or the security of persons." Read part of Pompeo's statement.
The statement says that the Department of States has credible information that Makonda was involved in such violations in his capacity as Regional Commissioner of Dar es Salaam region where he has been implicated in oppression of the political opposition, crackdowns on freedom of expression and association, and targeting of marginalized individuals.
According to Pompeo, the United States remains deeply concrrned over deteriorsting respect for human rights and rule of law in Tanzania. This includes actions taken by the government that curtail freedom of rxpression, freedom of association, and right of peaceful assembly; target marginalized and the political opposition; and jeopardize life.
The US actions against Makonda who is the administrative boss of the business city of Dar es Salaam underscore US concern with human rights violations and abuses in Tanzania, as well as their support for accountability for those engaged in such violations and abuses.
"The US government call on Tanzania government to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of expression, association and right of peaceful assembly." Says the ststement.
The US also publicly designated Makondas wife, Mary Felix Massenge.
Makonda announced in 2018 that his special committee would seek to identify and punish homosexuals, prostitutes and online fraudsters in the city.
He has disowned the allegations but went far state that United States is not heaven.
While Tanzania's constitution guarantees rights such as rights to equality, personal freedom, life, privacy, freedom of expression, religion, assembly, association, information and the right to take part in public affairs, in reality, the Tanzanian authorities have seriously restricted these rights.
According to Human Rights Watch 2019 report, since the December 2015 elections, Tanzania has witnessed a marked decline in respect for free expression, association and assembly.
The Trump administration recently announced new restrictions on immigrants from Myanmar, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Sudan, and Tanzania that will go into effect next month in an expansion of its controversial travel ban policy.
"The Department of State is publicly designating Paul Christian Makonda under Section 7031(c) of the FY 2020 Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related ProgramsAppropriations Actdue to his involvement in gross violation of human right, which include the flagrant denial of right to life, liberty, or the security of persons." Read part of Pompeo's statement.
The statement says that the Department of States has credible information that Makonda was involved in such violations in his capacity as Regional Commissioner of Dar es Salaam region where he has been implicated in oppression of the political opposition, crackdowns on freedom of expression and association, and targeting of marginalized individuals.
According to Pompeo, the United States remains deeply concrrned over deteriorsting respect for human rights and rule of law in Tanzania. This includes actions taken by the government that curtail freedom of rxpression, freedom of association, and right of peaceful assembly; target marginalized and the political opposition; and jeopardize life.
The US actions against Makonda who is the administrative boss of the business city of Dar es Salaam underscore US concern with human rights violations and abuses in Tanzania, as well as their support for accountability for those engaged in such violations and abuses.
"The US government call on Tanzania government to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of expression, association and right of peaceful assembly." Says the ststement.
The US also publicly designated Makondas wife, Mary Felix Massenge.
Makonda announced in 2018 that his special committee would seek to identify and punish homosexuals, prostitutes and online fraudsters in the city.
He has disowned the allegations but went far state that United States is not heaven.
While Tanzania's constitution guarantees rights such as rights to equality, personal freedom, life, privacy, freedom of expression, religion, assembly, association, information and the right to take part in public affairs, in reality, the Tanzanian authorities have seriously restricted these rights.
According to Human Rights Watch 2019 report, since the December 2015 elections, Tanzania has witnessed a marked decline in respect for free expression, association and assembly.
Rhetorical Attacks on rights by authorities are increasingly accompanied by implementation of repressive laws and the harassment and arrest of journalists, opposition members and critics. Self-censorship and fear of reprisals have stifled criticism.
Women and girls, particularly young mothers seeking to study, continue to face discriminatory policies. - Africa
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