Tanzania has strongly dismissed claims of human rights violations raised by representatives of the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network.
In their letter to the UN Human Rights Council, the activists accused Tanzania of grave violations of civic space, arrests, detention, and illegal deportation of its former officials from the East African nation. They also accused Tanzanian police of stripping naked, torturing, holding incommunicado, and sexually abusing Ugandan journalist Agather Atuhaire and Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi before deporting them.
However, through its Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Offices and Other International Organizations in Geneva, Dr Abdallah S. Possi, Tanzania has distanced itself from the allegations.
Dr. Possi stated that the statement by the activists contained erroneous, misleading, and misconstrued information, asserting that Tanzania fully upholds its obligations emanating from the Constitution as well as regional and international human rights instruments.
He mentioned that citizens have the freedom to express themselves and share their opinions, even against the government.
‘’Tanzania is a mature democracy, having held free, fair, and peaceful multi-party elections. In fact, since the birth of the nation, never at any time has Tanzania failed to hold elections as required by the Constitution. If the trends and patterns are anything to go by, the same should be expected this time around’’ said Dr Possi
He added, ‘’Tanzania’s ability to maintain peace, in a very diverse society, with many ethnicities, different beliefs and political ideologies, is attributed to its adherence to the rule of law. This commitment to legal principles helps ensure that all individuals are treated fairly and equitably. This applied to the individuals mentioned by the representative of the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (sic), who unfortunately failed to declare their genuine purpose of entering the country – a common requirement of immigration laws of many countries’’
Dr. Possi, though acknowledging that their claims are yet to be independently verified, Tanzania takes the allegations of torture, sexual abuse, and malpractices very seriously.
‘’The country is currently investigating, and if established, those concerned will be held accountable,’’ he said
He informed the UN Human Rights Council that Tanzania has made all necessary arrangements to ensure CHADEMA Chairman Tundu Lissu’s treason trial charges proceedings are broadcast live on online TV for transparency.
