Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Tuesday announced lifting of a six-year-old ban on opposition rallies imposed in 2016 by her predecessor, the late John Magufuli, reported The Reuters.
Former president Megufuli had imposed a ban on political rallies one year after he came to power, saying that they could escalate into violence. The ban also restricted politicians to hold assemblies in their respective constituencies only.
“Our responsibility is to protect you to hold political rallies peacefully, finish well and leave safely, the Tanzanian president said. “Your responsibility as a political party is to follow the laws as they say. Let’s do mature politics. Let’s do politics to build and not tear down.”
She made the remarks while she was addressing to leaders of Tanzania’s 19 registered political parties during a meeting at her office in the capital Dar es Salaam.
Hassan said that her decision to lift the ban was in line with her strategy of Reconciliation, Resilience, Reforms and Rebuilding the nation, dubbed 4Rs. She said while all the political parties had the right to hold rallies, they should must be civil and not to trade insults.
Hassan, who came to power after Magufuli’s demise in 2021, has taken a number of steps to break away from her predecessor’s policies.
Freeman Mbowe, the leader of the main Tanzanian opposition Chadema party, welcomed the lifting of the ban, saying that the move is first of all a return to a right that has been guaranteed by the country’s constitution and laws.
Some Tanzanian opposition politicians said the move should be a foundation stone for Tanzania’s democracy.
Tanzania’s president has also vowed to look into the demands of the opposition to amend the constitution, which according to the opposition parties gives too much power to the president. They also demand changes to safeguard the electoral commission and the court’s independence.
