It is now revealed that cartoonist Optatus Fwama has been detained by the authorities since the 23rd September 2021. The Cartoonist is incarcerated at the Oysterbay Police Station in Dar-es-Salaam. The arrest has happened after a cartoon went online and viral. Where the President Samia Suluhu Hassan as a kid playing with water in the shadow of Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete.
We saw similar thing happening when a comedian Idris Sultan was arrested for switching the face-off of the predecessor Joseph Magufuli. That happened in 2019 and he got arrested for doing so on the social media. In the same term of the predecessor he arrested several of journalists for exposing his regime. Therefore, the current Head of State is willing to do the same.
President Hassan must be faint hearted or thin-skinned. The Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and the authorities clearly have enough time on their hands to arrest and detain dissidents in this manner. It isn’t shocking. This is a pattern and what they do. We know this is how the CCM is guarding their truth and control of the media. Clearly, there is only one way and that’s the way of the CCM.
There is one unwritten rule that you should never insult the President or mock it in the United Republic of Tanzania. That’s because whoever that person might be. They are being demi-gods and supreme overlords after sworn-in to office. This is what is happening and this is why people suddenly faces the law for writing, speaking, broadcasting or leaking internal documents, which we’re supposed to be kept in the dark.
A President is above the law and cannot be criticized. A person who is the Head of State should only be praised and glorified. That is why cartoonist Fwama has spent days behind bars. The cartoonist didn’t understand the role and the dogma of a President. You are supposed to sing psalms and write biblical phrases for their eternal reign.
President Hassan is following Magufuli here. Fwama is the victim of the same sort of tyranny. The only difference is that it’s another Head of State. She cannot phantom that people would make such cartoons or make fun of her. However, if you are a head of state and a leader. You should expect people to do so. Because, everyone will not agree with you and neither will everyone respect you. That’s life and some leaders handles that pressure. Others does like the to mentioned and uses the iron fist against their dissidents.
If you can’t handle the pressure, maybe you should resign. The President should handle and have enough character to laugh these sorts of depictions off. However, it is proven that this wasn’t possible. We are clearly asking for too much. It’s not in her, but she doesn’t know better. Because, she is only following the mantle of the deceased. Peace.
