Politics

Tanzanian opposition leader Chadema demands judicial inquiry into murders, kidnapping

Published

4 months ago

August 24, 2024

Chadema, Tanzania’s major opposition party, has demanded a judicial investigation into the alleged kidnappings and murders that have shaken the nation.

At a news conference on Friday, Chairperson Freeman Mbowe stated that the issue needed to be resolved right away.

According to Mr Mbowe, more than 60% of all documented occurrences of kidnappings and missing persons nationwide occurred in Tanzania’s biggest city, Dar es Salaam.

He also raised fears about targeted political violence by claiming that senior Chadema leaders were among the victims.

“These are not isolated incidents,” said Mbowe. “What we’re seeing is a disturbing pattern of enforced disappearances, with a significant number occurring right here in Dar es Salaam.”

The leader of Chadema continued by alleging that state security forces were complicit in the disappearances.

Mr Mbowe claims that the party’s investigations have turned up material from insiders in the police department among other sources.

“What we’ve found is alarming,” he said. “There is a task force initially set up to combat armed robbery that seems to have shifted its focus. This group now appears to be involved in these abductions, operating outside the formal legal framework.”

He asserted that over 200 individuals had vanished under questionable circumstances, with several reports of them being subjected to torture by the security task force.

He noted that there are major ramifications for Tanzanian society as a whole as well as for the individuals who are directly impacted.

“This is not just about the missing people,” Mbowe warned. “It is about the fear and uncertainty that is spreading throughout the country. Tanzanians are living in fear and this is unacceptable.”

According to Mr. Mbowe, one cannot rely on the police to do their own investigation. Rather, he urged President Samia Suluhu Hassan to establish a judicial committee of investigation by using her authority under the Enquiries Act.

“The police force is compromised,” he said. “The only way to get to the truth is through an independent judicial commission of inquiry. We urge the President to take this step to restore peace, unity and stability.”

Related Topics:Chairperson Freeman Mbowe Featured Tanzania

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Politics

Mozambique’s top court affirms governing party’s victory in recent election

Published

4 days ago

December 26, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The highest court in Mozambique affirmed Monday that the incumbent Frelimo party won the October election, sparking widespread demonstrations from opposition parties who claim the vote was manipulated.

Fears of fresh bloodshed have been raised in the nation already shaken by weeks of fatal protests after Mozambique’s top electoral court mostly confirmed the results of the country’s contentious October elections, reinforcing the Frelimo party’s decades-long hold on power.

The final decision on the election process rests with the Constitutional Council. Mozambique, a nation of over 35 million people in Southern Africa that Frelimo has ruled since 1975, is expected to see more protests in response to its judgement.

Mozambique operates a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic in a multi-party system. The president of Mozambique serves as both the head of state and the head of government.

The government exercises executive power. The administration and the Assembly of the Republic have the authority to enact laws.

Politics

Alliance of Sahel States opposes ECOWAS disengagement schedule

Published

4 days ago

December 26, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) withdrawal timeline has been rejected by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which is made up of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

The AES claims that the ECOWAS is attempting to destabilise their newly formed organisation.

During a meeting last week in Abuja, Nigeria, the regional organisation announced a six-month withdrawal period to give the three nations time to change their minds after their official departure date at the end of January 2025.

However, this decision is “nothing more than yet another attempt by the French and its auxiliaries to continue planning and carrying out destabilising actions against the AES,” according to the heads of state of the AES.

“This unilateral decision is not binding on the ESA countries,” the statement continues. Before the conference, they stated that their choice to leave the organisation was “irreversible.”

According to the president of the Ecowas Commission, this will be a “transition period” that ends on “July 29, 2025” to “keep the doors of Ecowas open.”

The three nations accused the bloc of neglecting to assist them in resolving their domestic security challenges and of imposing “inhumane and irresponsible” sanctions related to the coup.

The three nations that were involved in the coup have mostly rejected ECOWAS’ attempts to undo their withdrawal. They are creating their alliance and have begun thinking about how to issue travel passports independently of ECOWAS.

It is anticipated that they will finish giving their one-year notice of departure in January.

Visa-free travel to other ECOWAS members is a significant perk of membership, and it is unclear how this would alter after the three nations exit the group.