In Tanzanian desperate politics – opposition is forbidden
Invitation By Daily Tab24. Updated: Sep 12, 2023.
Tundu Lissu has been released on bail less than 24 hours after he was arrested for holding what the police called illegal gathering. The opposition leader Tundu Lissu is also a former presidential candidate, he is on a watch list for daring to aspire to be the president of the country. Tanzania has a president who learned from his predecessor, how to strangle opposition in Tanzania. The script is what led to the arrest of the main opposition leader.
CHADEMA the opposition political party, pushing for years to become the new ruling party in Tanzania said on their X platform, formerly known as twitter that the vice Chairman of the Tanzanian biggest opposition party was arrested from a hotel alongside other party leaders. Northern Tanzania’s Arusha region is one of the strongholds of the opposition party, a gathering of party leaders in that region was considered illegal and threatens the ruling political party’s administration, thus, declared illegal and resulted in arrest of the criminals per say.
The opposition leader and vice chairman of CHADEMA returned to the country in January, after going on self exile after a ban on political rallies by the ruling party’s predecessor, late John Magafuli. The ban was lifted after six years by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, making it legal for opposition to hold political rallies.
Late John Magufuli oversaw a harsh government where oppositions are hounded and elections rigged to his favor. Until his death, he made life unbearable for oppositions in the country, banning them from holding political rallies while he alone holds rallies and gather his supporters for mini-rallies. He died shortly after Covid-19 and Hassan took over.
Tundu Lissu since he came back from Belgian where he ran to after losing election to Magufuli in fear of being arrested or killed, he has been castigating and criticizing the administration of Hassan. Noting that the administration has neglected human rights, he also criticized the government for misappropriation and corruption. The desperation of Magufuli may have been transferred to Hassan, whose record reflects that of her predecessor.
Six years ago, the ban on political rallies outside constituencies of opposition candidates was effected by the ruling party, a ban that later turned into a total ban on opposition normal party meetings or gatherings, both within and outside constituencies of opposition political leaders. The ban became a tool in the hands of the ruling party, using it to weaken opposition and ensure that elections are won by the ruling party.
Lissu condemned the ban; critics said human rights of oppositions are a concern, because their freedoms are affected by the ban. The ruling party paid deaf ears to the complaints and pressure to lift the ban. Oppositions in Tanzania are under constant threats for making moves to win elections.
Lissu and his party men took advantage of their arrest to pass a message of oppression, urging their supporters to stay strong as victory is assured. Hassan has made efforts to soften draconian sanctions that target opposition, but it has not stopped her from detaining and harassing opposition.
