US concerned over stifle of Freedom of Expression and Inclusive political participation in Tanzania

By Osoro Nyawangah, DAR ES SALAAM Tanzania

The United States of America’s Tanzania embassy has again raised concern over stifling freedom of expression and inclusive political participation, calling for honour of rights as stipulated in the country’s constitution.

This statement comes following arrest of the leader of a prominent opposition party, Alliance for Transparency and Change (ACT), Zitto Kabwe and other seven key leaders on Tuesday June 23.

Also the same day, the government revoked the licence of the print and online publication of the Tanzania Daima daily over excessive and repetitive nature of violations of the journalism laws and ethics.

The newspaper, one of the largest in the country, is owned by the leader of the official opposition in parliament (CHADEMA), Freeman Mbowe.

According to the Embassy’s statement posted today on its twitter account, citing that these actions follow a disconcerting pattern of intimidation toward opposition members, civil society, and media outlets.

“The Embassy of the United States of America expresses concern over recent actions by the Government of Tanzania to stifle democratic norms, including the arrest of political opposition figures during a closed party meeting and the revocation of the media license of an opposition party newspaper.” Says the statement.

The Embassy said that the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression are enshrined in the Tanzanian Constitution, and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and that the U.S. Embassy proudly supports freedom of expression and inclusive political participation in all formats.

Kabwe, an outspoken legislature for Kigoma urban was recently found guilty of sedition and barred from making public statements for one year. Before that, he had been a vocal critic of current administration and its approach in dealing with the coronavirus.

The country has also enacted strict laws on cyber-crimes and "media services." The laws allow authorities to suspend media outlets and charge journalists with sedition for publishing information deemed a threat to peace, false, or even just misleading.

While Tanzania police have enforced the government’s ban on political rallies when it comes to opposition parties, ruling party officials have been holding rallies and other political activities across the country ahead of the election in which the President John Magufuli seeks a second term.

Rights groups have several times accused President Magufuli’s administration of shrinking the democratic space in the East African country since taking power in 2015.

In a statement on Wednesday, Amnesty International described the arrests as "a calculated move to harass and intimidate the opposition and critics ahead of elections, restrict their human rights and limit their campaigning".  - Africa