Bank accounts of Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition frozen

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania

Bank accounts for the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC) have been frozen by Tanzania government for failure to submit its contracts with donors to Treasury.

THRDC Board Chairperson, Vicky Ntetema

 In a press release dated August 17, the Non-Governmental Organization said that they have temporarily suspended their operations in the country as they seeks reconciliation with the Police force that ordered freezing of their accounts.

In the statement written by THRDC Board Chairperson, Vicky Ntetema, the move came after the Police force ordered CRDB bank to block the accounts, for allegedly signing contracts with donors without consulting the Treasury Office and office of the Registrar of Non-Governmental Organizations.

In the accompanying Twitter, the THRDC said “Yesterday on 17th August 2020, THRDC received official communication (letter) from CRDB Bank that our bank accounts had been frozen following orders from authorities. We are now working hard to resolve it. In the meantime, we ask all well-wishers for your patience and support!”

However, Ntetema argue that her institution has been complying with the submission of the contracts to the Registrar of Non-Governmental Organizations.

“Following an emergency Board of Directors’ meeting, we have come into conclusion to temporarily suspend the Coalition’s operations until further notice. The board apologises its members and stakeholders for the inconveniences caused by the decision including the delay in payments and related issues,” reads part of the public statement issued on Tuesday August 18.

She said that last Friday, their institution received complaints from some of their members who claimed that they were denied access to receive funds via the Coalition’s CRDB bank accounts. “It was due to this, that THRDC sought assistance on Saturday from the bank, and they came to realize that the accounts were blocked by the bank through orders from the Police Force head offices pending interrogation.” She wrote.

She further narrated that the THRDC National Coordinator, Onesmo Olengerumwa, was summoned by the Central Police station in Dar es Salaam on Monday August 17 for interrogation in connection with the alleged offence.

“Olengurumwa was interrogated on the allegation of not submitting contracts entered with donors to Treasury and Registrar of Non-Governmental Organizations, police officers recorded his caution statement and bailed him after signing a Two Hundred Million shillings bond with two sureties.” She said.

The freezing of THRDC bank accounts that caused immediate suspension of their operations in the country has caused uproar from key politicians in the country.

The leader of an opposition party (ACT Wazalendo), Zitto Kabwe, said that suspension of activities by THRD Coalition is another evidence of attack to civic space. “Tanzania authorities shouldn’t be allowed to continue harassing civil society organizations working towards consolidating our democracy. It is shocking THRDC succumbed.”

Most human rights defenders, media houses and opposition parties that criticize Tanzania government have been labelled imperialistic agents.

According to the Human Rights Report 2020, Tanzania’s human rights record continued to deteriorate under current regime that came to power in 2015.

The government lifted some restrictions on the publication of independent statistics, but continued to restrict media and critics of the government, deregister civil society groups, arrest journalists, restrict civic space, and undermine the rights of women and of children.

According to The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law and the LHRC midyear report, the freedom of association for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) has been jeopardized by amendments of the NGO act in Tanzania, which reduces the autonomy of NGOs and provides for excessive regulation of the NGO sector.

The registrar stated that the process of deregistering underscored the need for NGOs to comply with the law and provide for transparency and accountability in their activities.

Under existing law, however, the registrar of NGOs is granted sweeping powers to suspend and deregister Non-Governmental Organizations, leaving loopholes which could be used to obstruct opposition and human rights NGOs.

In August 2019 alone, the Registrar of NGOs deregistered 158 Non-Governmental Organizations. - Africa