Tanzania: Directorate of Presidential Communications – President Samia Urges African Countries to Tell Their Own Stories (02.11.2023)

Tanzania: Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coaltion (THRDC), Tanzania Constitution Forum (JUKATA) & Tanganyika Law Society (TLS) – Joint Statement – Statement on the Arrest of Human Rights Defenders in Tanzania (15.08.2023)

Tanzania: Remember to salute President Suluhu for the glorious DP World Agreement!

“BREAKING: We have been informed that Hon. Mbowe and Lissu can be arrested at any time. The biggest reason is DP World. Dr. Slaa, Mwabukusi, Madeleka, Mdude Nyagali are in the hands of the police. Dr. Nshala is in EXILE. Samia do not torture the Tanganyikas for the interests of the Arabs. Look at West Africa” (Tanzania Leaks, 13.08.2023).

“Lawyer Alphonce Lusako, who was among those who opened a case against the Port investment agreement between Tanzania and DP World, has said that Lawyer Boniface Mwabukusi and his colleagues who were arrested by the police force in Morogoro region and taken to Mbeya have been on hunger strike since they were arrested. More news has started to spread that the lawyer Mwabukusi will be opened a case of treason for what is alleged to have made statements that allegedly threatened to bring down the administration of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan” (WateteziTV, 13.08.2023).

If Chama Cha Mapundzi (CCM) Government and DP World had made a beneficial or reasonable agreement. We wouldn’t be here today. However, the regime which is lead by non other than President Samia Suluhu Hassan is becoming to hostile to its detractors.

If you ever thought President Suluhu was a reformer or someone who offers change. I sadly have to tell you truth and she’s not. She’s continuing the same repression and totalitarian behaviour of her predecessor, which she was a deputy under. The President learned all the tricks of Magufuli and currently intends to tarnish the whole legacy of CCM.

CCM is acting with swift force and no remorse. There is no middle ground or space to move in. Only their party line and if you don’t accept it. Well, you can end up in the slammer. The authorities will find you and you will be charged by law. Either by treason, offensive communications or whatnot. The state will find some reasons to shield you from public life or even some privacy. They will take you down and you will forget normal life…

That’s what President Suluhu stands for. She has gotten greedy and expect everyone to bow down to her knees. As President she might even have sold crown jewels in the ports to the DP World. Risked valuable assets over a shoddy deal, which the public and the United Republic should never discuss. They should just praise her for misjudgement and misdeeds. While the DP World lives on and will haunt the government. Because, the stipulations and the articles of it can damage the Republic. They can lose assets and loose what used to belong to Tanzania.

Alas, here is the problem. The sovereign state has on its own and without consultation of the public. Possibly traded the future and given way to a huge Middle Easter Company. They have traded away tangible assets and infrastructure for some cheap money. Not thinking about the consequences or future ramifications. While hoping nobody would dare to question it or say otherwise.

Because, President Suluhu and CCM is bound to have the best interests at heart. While it seemingly isn’t so, when anyone and anybody who dares to question or speak out is getting behind bars. When anyone who says or speaks are silenced. They are taking any big-name, lawyer, activists or opposition leader and detaining them. That’s saying something about how bad things are.

This just shows there is something really bad about this DP World Agreement and the President don’t want the public to know. She knows she gave away and conceded valuable assets, which cannot be returned. That’s why she has to retaliate and use law enforcement to silence the ones who challenge her. Peace.

Tanzania: The President plans to “Takeover” TISS

“Part II deals with amendments proposed to various sections. The Act is proposed to be amended generally by removing all the provisions concerning the administration of the Minister responsible for intelligence and security and instead, placing that mandate under the President. The purpose of the amendment is to make the Act conform with the current structure of governance whereby the Security and Intelligence Service is under the direct superintendence of the President and not through the Minister responsible for intelligence and security. The proposed changes take into account the nature of operations of security services across the globe.   Following the proposed change of portfolio that places the Intelligence and Security Service under the mandate of the President, the Act is further proposed to be amended in sections 11, 15, 18 and 19(3) by removing the controls of the Minister responsible for Foreign Affairs, the Chief Secretary and the Attorney General of various matters pertaining the administration of intelligence and security.   The Act is proposed to be amended in section 4 with a view of conferring to the Service a defense and security status and to placing it under the general superintendence of the President. The amendments are aimed at complementing a duty which the Service currently executes as one of the defense and security organs in Tanzania” (Tanzania Intelligence and Security Service (Amendment), 09.05.2023).

We are living in interesting times, as the supposed reformer and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu is following the footsteps of her predecessor. She is no difference than what late President Magufuli would have done. This amendment of the TISS ACT is following and copying the style of governance that the late President would have done in a heartbeat.

The Chama Cha Mapundzi (CCM) is continuing their path to consolidate and have all power within its reach. That’s what is happening here and it’s so obvious. This amendment and the articles in it will only benefit the President. The President and the CCM will only get less accountable and have more power. That’s all this is about and it’s not about positive or inclusive reform. No, that would be a lie.

The Tanzanian President would have the oversight and direct control of TISS before any Minister or Attorney General. Meaning the Ministry and the Attorney General will be side-lined and have less of a say. They are not included and not privy to the facts.

In addition, which is also a basis of worry is that the officers in TISS getting a broader scope of immunity. Meaning the officers that his now directly under the Presidency now got less concerned with the law or implications of their activities. That’s a way of securing a police state and ensuring the law enforcement to issue injustice on a large scale.

Seeing the TISS Amendment Bill of 2023 is depressing. The CCM and the President is securing itself with vast powers here. The intelligence agency will be bound by the President and not by the Ministry or the Judiciary through the Attorney General. Therefore, Director General Said Hassan Nassoro will only have to answer to the President and nobody else. That is giving him and the President lots of freedoms. While the officers of the TISS will also easily get off the hook.

People should get worried about this and this will be a dangerous statement from the CCM. The ones believing that the President would reform and for a better society is wrong. This is a way of the CCM and the President to takeover more, and have less oversight. It is a dream for a dictator and a tyrant. That the security and intelligence agency is directed under you and nobody else. It is a fact that this is what the ones hungry for power wants. Because the TISS is now only beholden to one person and there are no laws overlooking it. Meaning the words of the President is the bond and the orders of the day. Therefore, Tanzanian citizens should be worried and concerned about TISS. Peace.