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Groups Want Tanzania to Roll Back Laws Stifling Dissent

VOA News

   Two rights groups are calling on Tanzania's government to ease
   restrictions on dissent and freedom of expression imposed since
   President John Magufuli came to power in 2015.

   Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch issued reports on Tanzania
   at a joint news conference Monday in Kenya's capital, Nairobi.

   "Magufuli's administration has passed many laws that restrict the work
   of journalists and intend to repress activities of civil society
   organizations," said Roland Ebole, lead researcher for the Amnesty
   International report. He said the president needs to "carefully reflect
   on his government's record of ruthlessly disemboweling the country's
   human rights framework."

   Human Rights Watch Africa researcher Oryem Nyeko said upcoming local
   and general elections will not be fair unless the government takes a
   different approach to perceived opponents.
   "The finding we have that the media and civil society are effectively
   silenced does not create a good environment for free and fair
   elections," he said. "So, we are encouraging and urging the government
   to ease these restrictions on civil society and the media to amend the
   restrictive laws."

   VOA contacted Tanzanian officials to comment on the reports, but
   received no response.

   The Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch reports are based on
   interviews with dozens of journalists, politicians, activists and other
   observers in Tanzania.

   Magufuli came to power in November 2015 promising to fight corruption.
   Previously, he was known for shutting down companies and firing
   government workers without due process.
   Once in office, he shut down anyone who challenged his authority. In
   2016, legislators approved a Magufuli-backed law that gave security
   agencies the power to search media organizations, seize their equipment
   and close them without a court order. Since then, the government has
   used the law to shut down five news outlets.
   Journalists say they are arrested for criticizing government, which
   denies crackdown and argues laws prevent media abuse

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