The main opposition presidential candidate in Tanzania, Tundu Lissu, has been suspended from election campaign activities. Mr Lissu was accused of making seditious statements during one of his rallies. This move comes few weeks before Tanzania’s presidential polls scheduled for 28 October 2020.
The National Electoral Commission (NEC) said, in a statement, that it had received complaints from two political parties over statements made by Lissu towards President Magufuli. To that effect, Mr Lissu will remain suspended effective October 3, 2020, for breaching the elections code of ethics in Tanzania.
“The committee agreed that Lissu violated the ethics by using seditious language and issued unconfirmed accusations which are both against the election laws. We therefore suspend Tundu Lissu from campaigning for seven days starting October 3, 2020. He will not be allowed to campaign until after the punishment.”
Rough Justice
Mr Lissu, in a tweet, described the suspension as “rough justice” as he was denied an opportunity to defend himself. He also vowed to go on with his campaign. “This orchestrated ‘rough justice’ is yet another proof of a discredited NEC and a compromised electoral system. NEC’s decision is totally unacceptable. I’ll not be intimidated or silenced. The campaign will continue on Sunday as scheduled.
Lissu, a staunch critic of President John Magufuli’s administration only returned to Tanzania in July 2020 after surviving assassination attempts in September 2017, when he was shot 16 times. He spent three years in Belgium receiving treatment. President Magufuli’s administration has come under criticism from human rights groups for the deteriorating human rights record including a crackdown on political dissent and restriction of media houses and NGOs under his watch.
In June, nine members of the opposition from the Wazalendo Alliance for Transparency and Change (ACT Wazalendo) were arrested for allegedly holding an illegal assembly. Several other violations have been recorded against President Magufuli but his government continues to deny all allegations of human rights violations.
