As Tanzania approaches local elections scheduled for November 27, 2024, there is increased scrutiny on the government’s human rights record. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a call for Tanzanian authorities to address the growing incidences of human rights violations, which include arbitrary arrests and extrajudicial killings.
The organization reports that supporters of opposition parties, particularly CHADEMA, are being targeted. One example is the abduction and subsequent death of Mohamed Ali Kibao. These incidents have highlighted a harsh governmental stance against dissent and increased repression tactics such as media blackouts and detention of opposition figures. HRW’s Senior Africa researcher, Oryem Nyeko, has emphasized the serious nature of these actions, warning that failing to halt the repression could further destabilize the nation. The crackdown has included arrests of journalists, such as those detained during a peaceful protest in Dar es Salaam, as well as suspension of media licenses, notably that of the Mwananchi Communications Ltd., after it published content critical of the government.
These events echo the concerns raised in the prelude to the 2020 general elections, where similar accusations of rights abuses and suppression of free expression were prevalent. Despite President Suluhu’s government taking preliminary steps to address human rights issues, there have been no concerted efforts to investigate or bring those responsible for these violations to justice, especially in regions like Zanzibar.
HRW has urged the Tanzanian government to take “urgent steps to uphold human rights,” stressing the importance of conducting thorough investigations into the abductions and disappearances that have been reported. For more detailed information, the original report can be accessed at JURIST – News.