A prohibition on opposition rallies put in place in 2016 by her strongman predecessor has been overturned by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan as a gesture towards political competitors calling for the restoration of democratic traditions.
“According to our laws, it is the right of political parties to hold their public meetings… my presence today in front of you is to give permission… that the announcement to prevent public meetings is now lifted,” local news outlet ITV, reported Hassan as saying on Tuesday.
During his first tenure as president, in 2016, former president John Magufuli imposed the ban. Though it was initially intended to apply to all political parties, detractors said it mainly targeted the opposition.
A law requiring bloggers, social media influencers, and internet platforms to register for licences and pay a one-time $930 charge to maintain their websites was passed by the Magafuli-led administration in 2018.
Three years later, Hassan came into power following the passing of Magufuli, who many dubbed “The Bulldozer” because they believed he suppressed free speech and singled out political opponents.
Constitutionally, the current president is in office until the end of Magufuli’s second five-year term, which is in 2025.
She has additionally been charged with continuing Magufuli’s dictatorial inclinations.
Despite trying to appease the opposition since taking power, Hassan has been called a “dictator” and concerns continue regarding the situation of press and political freedoms.
A newspaper run by the ruling party was suspended in 2021 as a result of an article it had published that said Hassan will not seek reelection in 2025.
Additionally, the seven-month imprisonment of opposition leader Freeman Mbowe, who was detained in July 2021 on suspicion of “terrorist financing,” did a great deal of damage to Hassan’s reputation as a democratic leader. After a court order, Mbowe was released in March of last year.
His supporters claimed the case was an attempt to quell opposition for political reasons, and Mbowe has accused police of torturing him while he was being held.
