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In an important decision and giving credence to Tanzania’s tryst with democracy, Tanzania´s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has lifted a six-year ban on opposition rallies imposed by her autocratic predecessor John Magufuli.
In an important decision and giving credence to Tanzania’s tryst with democracy, Tanzania´s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has lifted a six-year ban on opposition rallies imposed by her autocratic predecessor John Magufuli.
The ban was introduced in 2016 by political strongman John Magufuli at the onset of his first term in office. His governance was marred by draconian rules and oppression of people’s dissent. The decision was communicated by Hassan during a meeting with political party representatives. She, to their delight, announced that political parties have a right to hold meetings and that the government’s duty was to give permission and provide security.
At the same time, She cautioned political affiliations to engage only in constructive criticism and engage in activities that will build the nation. The main opposition party’s response was cautious optimism and termed it as a welcome step in the right direction. President Hassan is serving the remaining term of Magufuli´s term after he died in 2021. She has been accused of continuing her predecessor´s anti-democratic policies. In 2021, Chadema, the main opposition party’s chairperson Freeman Mbowe was arrested as he was planning to address a meeting to discuss constitutional reforms.
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The Tanzanian president’s decision is widely welcomed worldwide, terming it a bold and proactive step for other nations in the region to follow. In the same year, she suspended a newspaper that reported that she would not vie for the presidency in 2025. In 2022, she however lifted a ban on four newspapers that had been banned by Magufuli.
