Tanzanian MP Tundu Lissu at the Nairobi Hospital in January, after he
was shot outside his Dodoma house last September. The attempt on the
life of opposition chief whip is among several incidents that tarnished
the image of the country in 2017. PHOTO | FRANCIS NDERI
TU | NMG
Restrictions on political meetings, freedom of expression and
associations, and interference with freedom of assembly defined the
deterioration of human rights in Tanzania in 2017, states a new
report compiled by the Legal and Human Rights Centre.
report compiled by the Legal and Human Rights Centre.
The
disappearance of journalist Azory Gwanda, and the attempt on the life of
opposition chief whip Tundu Lissu were among several incidents that
tarnished the image of the country.
However, the
report, while urging the government to abolish the death penalty and
commute death sentences to life in prison, commends the government on
its action on inmates on death row, in particular President John Pombe
Magufuli’s decision to pardon inmates on death row and the announcement
that he would not sign any death warrant.
The report,
titled “Unknown Assailants: A Threat to Human Rights”, cites threats to
and harassment of journalists and application of restrictive laws among
the factors behind the falling human rights record.
It also points to lack of accountability as a major factor affecting protection of human rights in the country.
Freedom of expression
Last year, the report says, freedom of expression was the most
violated of human rights owing to threats and harassment of journalists,
bans on media outlets, and the application of restrictive laws
including the Media Services Act of 2016.
Speaking at
the launch of the report, Fatma Karume, president of Tanganyika Law
Society, said freedom of speech has particularly suffered recently with
limited space for civil society and religious organisations.
“Once
there is no freedom of speech you cannot expect to see any meaningful
development. People needs to speak out their views,” she noted.
The report indicates that freedom of expression is restricted most when it comes to discussing political issues.
“In
September 2017, a Bill on online content regulation was tabled,
containing provisions that may further restrict freedom of expression,”
the report notes.
The proposed regulations will enable
the government to regulate online content and in the process affect
social media, bloggers, online television and radio and websites,
through registration requirements, fees, and heavy penalties.
The regulations would also give the Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority powers to shut down social media.
According to the report, violations of the right to life also increased in 2017.
“There have been incidents of killings, abductions and torture of people by unknown assailants, and arbitrary arrests and attacks,” the report, released on Wednesday, said.
According to the report, violations of the right to life also increased in 2017.
“There have been incidents of killings, abductions and torture of people by unknown assailants, and arbitrary arrests and attacks,” the report, released on Wednesday, said.
Extrajudicial killing
The report also notes that there were five more incidents of extrajudicial killing in 2017 than in 2016, with nine reported incidents, and that there were brutal killings of 12 law enforcement officers last year alone.
The report also notes that there were five more incidents of extrajudicial killing in 2017 than in 2016, with nine reported incidents, and that there were brutal killings of 12 law enforcement officers last year alone.
“A total of 307 witchcraft-related killings were
reported in 2017, but these are 47 less than in 2016. There were no
reported killings of people with albinism during the said period,” the
report states.
The report also highlights arbitrary
arrests ordered by regional and district commissioners, and the arrests
and detention of leaders and members of political parties as a violation
of basic rights to liberty and personal security.
The
report recommends that the government improve the working conditions of
the police force, including providing more resources, improved housing
and remuneration in order to safeguard the right to personal security.
“The
government should also allow civil society organisations and political
parties to operate freely, including ensuring their right to assemble
peacefully,” the report adds.
The report says incidents of arbitrary arrests and extra judicial killings perpetrated in 2017 ought to be tackled.
The report says incidents of arbitrary arrests and extra judicial killings perpetrated in 2017 ought to be tackled.
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