[ad_1]
When Samia Suluhu Hassan took the reins of power in Tanzania four months ago, there was hope at home and abroad that she would turn the page on the increasingly autocratic regime of her late predecessor.
But with the arrest of a prominent opposition leader for terrorism, critics now openly use the term “dictator” to describe Tanzania’s first female president.
Hassan, a mainstay of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party who served as vice president throughout John Magufuli’s reign, was sworn in as head of state after his sudden death in March.
Magufuli left a complex legacy.
He was initially popular for his pragmatic anti-graft stance and was praised for his investments in infrastructure, expanding free education, and collecting taxes from foreign mining companies.
But his reign was marred by a slide towards authoritarianism that saw him crack down on the media, activists and free speech.
In the weeks following his swearing-in, the soft-spoken Hassan reached out to the political opposition, pledging to defend democracy and fundamental freedoms, and to reopen banned media.
She quickly reshuffled the cabinet, appointing her own allies to many key positions, but without alienating Magufuli’s core support base, analysts noted.
In her most striking move to date, she broke with the policies of Magufuli deeply skeptical of Covid who had mocked the efforts of other countries to contain the disease and instead told Tanzanians to stand up. turn to prayer to face the “devil” of the coronavirus.
Last week, Hassan received a Covid hit live on television as she launched a mass vaccination campaign for the 58 million residents.
But activists and opposition politicians say Hassan is pursuing the path of the “Bulldozer” Magufuli to quell dissent in a country once seen as a haven of stability in East Africa.
“Hassan uses a very good tone even when she talks about the same things as her predecessor. Her kind of personality makes things different,” said Abel Kinyondo, professor at the University of Dar es Salaam.
“War on Democracy”
Last month, police arrested members of the main opposition party Chadema, including its leader Freeman Mbowe, in an overnight raid hours before a public forum was held to demand constitutional reform.
Mbowe has since been charged with terrorist financing and conspiracy and is being held behind bars in Dar es Salaam.
The arrests have sparked outrage in opposition circles and alarm bells among rights groups and Western nations.
“There was hope that Magufuli’s reign of terror and war against democracy would come to an end,” Tundu Lissu, who was Chadema’s candidate for the 2020 election, said on Twitter.
But the arrests “dashed such hope,” said Lissu, who went into exile in Belgium after an attack on his life in 2017.
Chadema called for non-violent protests on Thursday when Mbowe’s case is due to return to court.
Despite Hassan’s promises, political rallies are still not allowed, and she told editors last month that the opposition should postpone such events to focus on building the economy.
Map of Tanzania. By Vincent LEFAI (AFP) “The apparent link between growing opposition calls for constitutional changes and Mbowe’s arrest signals that despite a change of leadership in Tanzania, appetite for constitutional change and strong opposition remain low within the government. Chama Cha Mapinduzi in power, ”said Conor Vasey of Eurasia Group.
“Bittersweet experience”
Ado Shaibu, secretary general of the Opposition Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT Wazalendo), called Hassan’s first months in power a “bittersweet experience.”
“Positive reforms are underway (but) other issues are pending,” he said.
“Everything she promises now cannot be guaranteed unless we have legal mechanisms such as the constitution to defend it.”
Independent analyst Kennedy Mmari noted that Hassan had acted quickly to strengthen ties with the international community and neighboring countries.
She traveled to Kenya to restore relations after years of disputes over trade and border issues, and she sought rapprochement with the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar in Tanzania.
Under his leadership, Tanzania also began talks with the International Monetary Fund for a $ 571 million aid package to revive the economy after the damage inflicted by Covid-19.
“She’s taking a different route but we’ll need more time to get the real direction,” Mmari said.
Onesmo Ole Ngurumwa, coordinator of the Tanzanian Coalition of Human Rights Defenders, said people had lost hope under Magufuli and were looking for change.
“We are looking to see exceptional policies like getting the new constitution and changing the political environment that currently resembles a one-party system,” he said.
On the streets of Dar es Salaam, however, people were more worried about putting food on the table.
“I haven’t felt its impact yet,” said Cecilia John, a fruit seller in the city’s Buguruni district.
“It increases freedom and happiness, but I need money to have daily bread.”
Source link
