The past few weeks have seen all manner of exchanges between Kenya and Tanzania occasioned by the arrival in Dar-es-Salaam of a phalanx of human rights activists for the treason trial of an opposition leader, Tundu Lissu. The ordinary mwananchi in both countries would have been forgiven for being nonplussed at the quick succession of events.
The initial hue and cry from the Kenyan side was followed by Tanzanian head of state, Samia Suluhu, taking matters a notch high by haranguing the work of the activists, some of whom she alleged were carrying over frustrations from their homeland.
As a staunch East African, I’m compelled to raise my voice out and inform the region on a suffocating reality of political life in Tanzania that calls for as much regional intervention as is possible. I’m reminded that during the tyrannical reign of Idi Amin in Uganda, Tanzania led by President Julius Nyerere was emphatic on the atrocities committed. We didn’t turn a blind eye. Notwithstanding the personal friendship of the towering Julius Nyerere and the ousted Milton Obote, Tanzania stands tall for taking the moral high ground in making clear its stand on tyranny.
Fast-forward to today, in the region of East Africa, Kenya has established itself as a country worthy of the status of Second Republic following the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution. The story of Tanzania now is so tragic as here we had Nyerere for so long doing virtually all the big thinking for the country well into his retirement - but without firm constitutional foundations to curtail poor leaders that culminated in the emergence, to all intents and purposes, of the fascist John Pombe Magufuli.
It is important to remind readers that when Magufuli was on his death bed, Tanzanians were totally in the dark on his whereabouts. It is as if we were living in the era of sole state media where every message was closely monitored. Our people were left to rely on any foreign source of information. If a movie were to be made of the comedy of errors, it would be a veritable blockbuster. To add to this, I recall with a beaming smile a moving editorial from the Sunday Nation on how Kenya stands with Tanzania at its very difficult hour.
To now see sections of Kenyans treated to vituperation is most painful to my mind.
Unknown to many outside Tanzania is how our journalists almost without exception have been reduced or have reduced themselves to levels nearing government agents. The excesses of the old one-party system are minuscule in comparison to what is happening now. The leaders of the old order were clearly picnicking, so to speak, when looking at the existing officialdom.
An illustration that is absolutely nauseating is how they obviate the reporting about Tanzanians who have shown interest in the registration of political party. It is now 11 years since any party was registered in Tanzania believe it or not. I and friends have attempted now for 2 years with no luck at all.
Another political grouping known as Action for Human Justice (AHJ) out of desperation went to the extent of writing to President Samia Suluhu Hassan in December 2023 and received no reply. We've actually seen their open letter and met with them to compare notes. They had shockingly applied for registration way back in 2016 when Magufuli was in the driving seat and underwent all manner of frustrations related to having to prove their citizenship. They eventually fulfilled the requirements and at the end of December 2022 paid the hefty one million shillings fee for temporary registration.
One of the issues they also bring up concerns procedural infractions whereby according to the law, the ORPP is supposed to publish in at least two national newspapers, Kiswahili and English, information related to the name of the party, flag or colour in order to give an opportunity for any objections from the public. Nothing of the sort ever happened.
The registrar, one reprobate Judge Francis Mutungi, at some point bizarrely announced that he was putting on hold any registration in order that he first completes an evaluation of the existing parties. All gobbledegook!
Following whatever evaluation he claimed to be doing, there has been no word on the registration of any political parties.
Every February in Tanzania there is what is known as Law Day that is also marked with great pomp. Our experience of the ORPP trampling on the application of the law is a real cause for mourning. To worsen matters, amongst the legal profession in Tanzania, a display of indifference is quite apparent on the registration of political parties. Any lawyer worth his or her salt would be aghast at the workings of the ORPP. It was against this diabolical state of affairs that the thought even crossed our mind that it was necessary for direct action on Law Day in the full presence of the head of state.
It is also so nauseating to hear the registrar issue statements on the timing of the application of some individuals to register a political party. In Tanzania a political party is only to be registered just after an election and not before.
I wish his office could be told that in the Republic of South Africa, there are over 350 political parties. In Tanzania just the registration of one political party is a Herculean effort.
They also harp on about Samia's 4R's that were geared towards a ‘civil’ way of doing politics but soon after they and others trample on the fundamental liberty to form a political association. This is a sham democracy with absolute certainty!
As I wrap up, I make an urgent plea to all friends of Tanzania in the region not to hesitate in fighting for a democratic Tanzania. The people of Tanzania desperately need to have a future predicated on principles of fairness. We must all close ranks to achieve this high calling. The moment is now!
*Andrew Bomani is a Tanzanian and the co-founder of the Independent People's Party, He can be reached at a_bomani@yahoo.com . The views in the article are his.
