Page 23 - Issue 9

years in power; he was due to step down Tanzanian president will seek another groups, with him exhibiting tendencies
in August. In 2015, the the Burundi five-year term of office in the next that frowned upon criticism and
constitution was changed, allowing general elections slated for October, alternative voices, particularly from the
Mr Nkurunziza to seek a third term, according to local media reports. media and the opposition.
triggering huge protests, an attempted President John Magufuli made
coup and a widespread crackdown. the announcement after collecting Recently, Tanzanian opposition leader
According to Human Rights Watch, nomination forms at the party Freeman Mbowe, who has announced
there have been at least 67 documented headquarters in the capital Dodoma his intention to run against Magufuli,
killings, including 14 extrajudicial City. Magufuli, 60, is the fifth president was allegedly beaten and hospitalized
executions, in the last six months. There of Tanzania, and has been in office since in what his Chadema party said was
have also been disappearances, cases of 2015. Magufuli is also the chairman of a “politically-motivated” attack. The
torture and over 200 arrests against real the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (Party government has denied seeking to stifle
or perceived political opponents. of the Revolution). dissent. .
The security forces have been accused Attacks against opposition parties and
of using excessive force to shut down The East African country’s constitution
opposition activity. limits the tenure of office of the president its supporters have risen sharply under
Magufuli, whose administration has
Some regional leaders and human to two five-year terms. General elections been accused by rights groups of eroding
will be held in the East African country
rights groups expressed hope that the on Oct. 25 2020 to elect the President democratic freedoms.
new president, an ally of Nkurunziza,
might break with certain ways of his
predecessor.
In a statement, Amnesty International
called on Ndayishimiye to rein in the
Imbonerakure youth wing of the ruling
party, accused of killings and other
abuses, and urged the immediate freeing
of imprisoned journalists and others
jailed for exercising their human rights.
The rights group also urged Burundi’s
new leader to investigate the deadly
violence that followed Nkurunziza’s
decision in 2015 to pursue a third term,
which many called unconstitutional.
His 2015 run for a third term in office
sparked protests and a failed coup, with
violence leaving at least 1,200 people
dead while some 400,000 fled the
country. Tanzania’s General elections in October, as Maguful announces re-election bid
The World Bank estimates that seven out
of 10 Burundians live below the poverty and National Assembly. Opposition parties, including
line, and the country’s 11 million Chadema and Alliance for Change and
people will hope that whoever ends up “I have collected nomination forms Transparency (ACT Wazalendo) have
president will make their lives better, today seeking party’s approval for re-
as Burundi remains one of the world’s election. I will start looking for sponsors called for an independent monitor to
poorest countries right away from here [Dodoma],” he was oversee the elections, warning they will
Ndayishimiye is inheriting a deeply quoted as saying. not be free otherwise.
isolated country, under sanctions and The announcement came just a day after “The current setup of the electoral
cut off by foreign donors, its economy Magufuli dissolved the parliament. “I commission does not guarantee free
and national psyche damaged by years of want to assure everyone that the elections polls, as it favours the ruling party.
political violence and rights violations. will be free and fair, for all political The chairman and some other officials
parties,” Magufuli told legislators. are appointed by the president, who
Tanzania’s parliament has been dissolved is the ruling party leader,” said ACT
ahead of elections due in October, with Wazalendo chairman Seif Sharif Hamad.
President John Magufuli pledging a
“free and fair” vote in a country where In November, the ruling Chama Cha
the opposition has decried a climate of Mapinduzi (CCM) party won more
fear and violence. than 99 percent of seats in local elections
Magufuli, took office in 2015 promising boycotted by the opposition over
a crackdown on corruption but whose allegations of government interference.
Late, Nkuruzinza presidency has drawn criticism by rights The government denied foul play.

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