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Tanzanian authorities said Thursday they ordered a local defense group to explain or face a lawsuit after publishing a poll showing that President John Magufuli's popularity had dropped by 41%
. "In Swahili," last week published the results of a poll of opinion on the state of democracy in Tanzania.
The survey of 1,200 people reveals that citizens have lost their freedoms since Magufuli took office in 2015 as a "man of the people" who fights against corruption.
A 2016 Twaweza survey – for which they have not been criticized – has established Magufuli's popularity at 96%. Their latest study found that this figure had dropped to 55%, the lowest score recorded by a president in the country's history.
At a press conference on Thursday, Acting Director General of the Commission on Science and Technology (Costech), Amos Nungu, confirmed of a letter circulating on social networks, lashing out at Twaweza for his research.
"You are asked to justify, within seven days from the date of this letter, why no appropriate legal action should be brought against your organization Nungu has accused Twaweza of having violated the" search procedures "and criticized the NGO for publishing this letter.
Twaweza's director, Aidan Eyakuze, denied letting out the letter and said his organization" was working on our response ", which is due Monday.
Teen Shaibu, spokesman for the opposition Alliance for Change and Transparency, accused the government of trying to muzzle Twaweza.
"O political parties and the party at Power have often been the subject of Twaweza polls without encountering any problems. I think this time Costech wrote to Twaweza because the poll was not favorable to the government, "he said at a press conference on Thursday.
Magufuli was criticized by groups defending human rights.
Critics say it has suppressed opposition and freedom of expression.
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