(4 minutes read)
· Tanzania’s main opposition Chadema party, called for
electoral reforms by amending the Constitution to ensure the
independence of the electoral commission
· Sweden announced that it was reducing aid to the East
African nation due to “the negative democratic developments in the
country”
· Opposition Chadema party chairman Freeman Mbowe pitched for
Amendment of the constitution to ensure an “independent electoral
commission” to restrain the president from revoking and appointing
the other political leadership.
Tanzania’s main opposition, Chadema party, called for electoral
reforms by amending the Constitution to ensure the independence of the
electoral commission. While such demands from the main opposition
party is at full play, Sweden announced that it was reducing aid to
the East African nation due to “the negative democratic developments
in the country”. Sweden is the latest donor country to take measures
against Tanzania’s transgression to human rights, after the US
Sweden’s embassy said that it would focus on marginalized groups, the
defenders and torchbearers of democracy. Later this year, Tanzania’s
general election is due. Sweden’s stand ahead of the general elections
of the East African country is significant.
It was a clean sweep for President John Magufuli’s long-ruling CCM
party in the local government polls held in last November, when it won
99 percent of seats. Countries like the United States and Britain
posed a question mark on the credibility and transparency of the
process of election as also on the results.
Magufuli came to power with a popular mandate in 2015 as a
corruption-fighting “man of the people”. But he is now criticized for
his authoritarian leadership style. In all probability, the sitting
president would contest to retain the position. The polls are due in
October this year.
Opposition Chadema party chairman Freeman Mbowe pitched for amendment
of the constitution to ensure an “independent electoral commission” to
restrain the president from revoking and appointing the other
political leadership. He also demanded a re-poll of the local
government elections boycotted by the opposition last year. He also
insisted on the formation of a reconciliation team to rectify the
current political environment. It may be recalled that US also made a
similar demand last year and urged the rapid and transparent
registration of voters, the creation of independent electoral
commissions, and the early accreditation of credible long and
short-term, national and international election observers.
Zitto Kabwe, an MP and leader of another opposition party- the
Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT), stressed the need for
international support to put pressure on the government.
