The statement issued on Wednesday by the organization stated that since June the authorities have been arbitrarily arresting hundreds of opposition supporters, blocking social networks, banning private media, and has been linked to the kidnapping and arbitrary killing of eight government critics.
Oryem Nyeko, a senior African researcher at the organization Human Rights Watch He says the authorities in Tanzania have shown increasing intolerance for freedom of expression by clamping down on their critics and political opponents. Nyeko says the government should quickly end the wave of repression or risk an increase in the already tense political environment, before the local government elections scheduled for November 2024.
Human Rights Watch said the authorities are also dealing with those who raise concerns about the abduction and disappearance of people. In August, the main opposition party CHADEMA announced to hold a demonstration in Dar es Salaam to protest the government's negligence in condemning the situation of people being kidnapped, however the police banned the demonstration, threatening to deal with the people who will protest.
Suppressing opponents and the media
On September 23, the police arrested and later released on bail the leaders of CHADEMA, Freeman Mbowe and Tundu Lissu, together with other members of the party, before the planned demonstration.
Earlier in September, the Internet Research Agency NetBlocks confirmed that Tanzania has blocked access to the X social network. The NetBlocks website was blocked while Tanzanians engaged in social media discussions about the loss.
On October 2, the Tanzania Communications Authority, TCRA, suspended licenses to publish online content for Mwananchi Communications, publishers of Kiswahili and English newspapers, after publishing a cartoon video showing President Samia Suluhu Hassan watching a news report about the kidnapping. TCRA claimed that the video endangers national unity and social peace in Tanzania.
The authorities should take action
Human Rights Watch says this repression reflects the situation before the general elections of October, 2020, where there was a deterioration in freedom of expression and association with other human rights. The authorities arbitrarily arrested several leaders of opposition parties, temporarily suspended the media, monitored mobile phone communications and blocked social networks.
Nyeko says at this time, authorities in Tanzania they should take immediate steps to defend human rights and ensure that the next election is free and fair. According to Human Rights Watch, President Samia should ensure a prompt and impartial investigation into the disappearance of his critics and end ongoing sanctions against his political opponents and independent media.
