By: Marc Gancedo/GICJ
In Tanzania, civil and political rights are increasingly restricted. The fraudulent elections of last year have proven that the will of the people is not taken into account, and grave human rights violations are being committed against those who resist the regime.
The third cycle of the Universal Periodic Review of Tanzania took place on November 5th. The representative of the United Republic of Tanzania took the floor to present the country report to the stakeholders. Key issues were addressed including children and women’s rights, freedom of expression and the steps taken against the discrimination of people with disabilities with a special focus on albinism.
Most of the recommendations made by participating delegations called on the government to stop persecuting political opponents and to stop criminalizing consenting same-sex relations. Tanzania’s delegation denied the accusations that the government oppresses political opponents, arguing that nobody in Tanzania is discriminated against for their political beliefs. In spite of this, he claimed that ‘no right of freedom is absolute’ and argued that some restrictions were acceptable on matters of public health and morality and for the purpose of securing a secular state that ensures diversity.
This argument, however common, sets a very dangerous precedent as it justifies crackdown on political opponents on grounds of national security and stability. As pointed out by the Dutch delegate, Tanzania has fallen 53 ranks down in the World Democracy Index ranking due to continued efforts to silence dissident voices.
The increased authoritarianism from the government of Tanzania runs parallel to the spread of Covid-19. Initially, the government acted in line with other countries in the region. However, by Spring of 2020, the President declared the pandemic ‘defeated’ and those who challenged the this narrative faced arrests and other forms of repression.
In October 2020, the fraudulent elections deepened the deterioration of civil and political rights. Multiple sources have accounted for the unruly nature of the general elections in which fraud and intimidation were widespread. The incumbent President Magufuli won re-election in a landslide with 84% of the votes, amidst accusations of tampering and fraud.
Geneva International Centre of Justice remains deeply troubled by the recent developments in Tanzania, particularly those relating to political and civil rights as they create a significant setback for the development of the country into a consolidated democracy. We urge the government of Tanzania to put an end to the persecution and the arbitrary detention of voices critical of the government. Siding with delegations of Tanzania’s neighbouring countries, it is crucial that Tanzania continues monitoring Covid-19 cases and makes this information available to the public in a gesture of transparency and good faith. Finally, we call for the government to ratify the treaty body conventions Tanzania has yet to ratify, especially the Convention Against Torture, so that Tanzania makes manifest its commitment to securing the well-being of detainees.
Justice, Human rights, Geneva, geneva4justice, GICJ, Geneva International Centre For Justice
