By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The police in Tanzania on Friday warned demonstrators not to continue with a planned December 9 nationwide protest, same day the East African country will be marking its independence anniversary, saying it would be illegal.
Police Spokesperson David Misime on Friday said they were yet to receive any formal notifications from anyone wishing to hold demonstrations, after social media posts circulated calling for protests over a highly disputed presidential election Oct. 29 in which President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner.
She won after her main challengers were either detained or disqualified, prompting protests in which hundreds of persons, according to opposition and UN sources were said to have been feared dead.
“The Police Force is banning these demonstrations, which have been given the name of ‘unlimited peaceful protests’, from taking place,” the police spokesperson said in a statement.
Misime said those mobilising for protest were, among other things, urging participants to seize property, disrupt services at hospitals and to stay on the streets for an unlimited time to paralyse economic activity.
The government has disputed the figure believed to have been killed, saying it is exaggerated.
On Wednesday, a United Nations human rights experts group urged Tanzanian authorities and security forces to protect people’s right to assembly and prevent any more violations ahead of the planned demonstrations.
President Hassan has promised to investigate the post-election violence, offering condolences to bereaved families
She has acknowledged the violence which analysts say is the country’s biggest political crisis in decades.
“We hear there is another one planned … whenever they come, we are prepared,” Hassan told a meeting of elders in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, referring to the planned demonstrations.
On Thursday, the United States announced plan to review its relationship with Tanzania over alleged religious repression, free speech, obstacles to U.S. investment and violence against civilians.
Tanzania’s foreign ministry said on Friday it had noted with concern separate statements by the European Union delegation, the U.N. Human Rights Council and several countries including the United States, Ghana, Belgium, Canada and Denmark.
“Tanzania remains committed to constructive international cooperation for peace and development and respectfully calls upon all stakeholders to allow national mechanisms to implement steps and measures taken by the government,” it said in a statement.
President Samia had announced the cancellation of the independence day celebration over the post-election violence, instead saying that funds will be invested towards rebuilding infrastructure damaged within the period.
