Thursday, 27th August 2020

H.E. HON JOHN POMBE MAGUFULI
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA DAR ES SALAAM
TANZANIA

Dear Sir,

REFERENCE: OPEN LETTER
CONCERNS OVER SHRINKING CIVIC SPACE IN TANZANIA

Your Excellency, receive warm greetings from the rest of Africa. It is our hope that this letter finds you in the best of health and high spirits.

We, the people from Africa, comprising of community based organizations, women groups, religious and faith based institutions, human rights defenders, youth associations, grass root movements, unions of persons living with disabilities and civil society organisations, do hereby write to you respectfully, concerned and alarmed by the shrinking civic space in your country.

Over the last few months, we have noted the following which has led us to believe all is not well:

• –  Imposition of laws that take away the independence of the media and political parties including the Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content Regulations) Act and Political Parties Act;
• –  Suspension of local newspaper for publishing articles critical of the State;
• –  Banning of local radio and television stations from airing foreign-produced content

  without government approval;

• –  Freezing of the bank accounts of the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition;
• –  Continued harassment including arrest and torture of human rights defenders, bloggers

  and journalists in the country; and

• –  Continued harassment including arrest of opposition politicians in the country.

  Your Excellency, as a result of the above, we are perturbed, as fellow Africans, by the deteriorating human rights situation in your country and infringement of civil liberties guaranteed by the Constitution of Tanzania. It is our view that Tanzanians are living in distress as a result of the on going drawbacks on their freedoms as citizens.

  Further, we take cognizance of the fact that Tanzania is a signatory to all major international human rights instruments including the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Convention Against Torture (CAT) and African Commission on Human and Political

Rights (ACHPR) resolutions. However, we are saddened by the reneging of these international standards in the country.

Your Excellency, to this end, we call on you as the President to reverse the negative trends witnessed in the last few months in order to create a conducive environment by your government to take back Tanzania to the path of justice, rule of law and respect for human rights. We further call on you to direct the following:

• –  Review of all laws that were recently amended and/or enacted to take away civil liberties
• –  Support freedom of the press to operate and report on all matters irrespective of political

  affiliation as long as they respect international media standards

• –  Ensure a free and vibrant civil society devoid of intimidation, arrests and torture of

  human rights defenders

• –  Ensure independence of the National Electoral Commission (Tanzania) and Registrar of

  Political Parties to support free, fair and credible elections

• –  Follow up to ensure the immediate unfreezing of the bank accounts of Tanzania Human

  Rights Defenders Coalition so that they continue with their work to provide civic education and support safety and protection of human rights defenders in the country.

  As fellow Africans, we are confident that the implementation of the above will go a long way in ensuring promotion of democracy, human rights, justice and rule of law in your country.

  Your Excellency, it is our belief that the above warrant your immediate action and will subsequently restore faith in institutions of governance in Tanzania.

  We look forward to your swift and speedy action. Sincerely,

  1. HAKI Africa – Kenya
  2. Heal Africa Trust – Zimbabwe
  3. African Law Foundation (AFRILAW) – Nigeria
  4. Nubian Rights Forum – Kenya
  5. Kituo cha Haki Kibera – Kenya
  6. Leadership Initiative for Transformation and Empowerment (LITE-Africa) – Nigeria
  7. Actions Jeunes et Femmes pour le Developpement Durable – Mali
  8. Defenders Coalition of Kenya – Kenya
  9. Bunge Mashinani – Kenya
  10. Peace and Security Institute of Africa (PSIA) – Uganda
  11. Centre de Recherches et d’Etudes sur la Securite et le Developpement (CRESED) – Togo
  12. Pwani Social Justice Centres Working Group – Kenya
  13. Association d’actions de Paix et de Developpement Communautaire (APADEC) – DRC
  14. CSOs Network – Kenya
  15. Ethiopian Human Rights Defenders Coalition – Ethiopia