Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced Tuesday the end of the ban on demonstrations, in place for more than seven years, after her first meeting with opposition leaders since taking office in March 2021.
She held a meeting with the leaders of the country’s 19 registered opposition parties, fulfilling a promise she made shortly after becoming President following the sudden death of John Magufuli, who banned demonstrations in 2015.
Thus, he has recognized that these protests are legal and has affirmed that it is the responsibility of the parties to give information to the Government about the calls to organize security and avoid incidents, as reported by the Tanzanian newspaper ‘The Citizen.
«Permission will be given to political gatherings. Our duty as government is to protect them,» he explained. «Hold your meetings safely, but you will have to stick to the rules and regulations, since it is also your responsibility,» he added.
In this regard, he has confirmed that «discussions between the Government and the political parties are still ongoing, given that there are many issues to discuss, be advised, accept and reject with good will.» «I believe that the parties will continue to sit down and talk about the things that affect our country,» he said.
The Tanzanian president has also revealed that she will soon relaunch the work for the drafting of the new Constitution, stalled for eight years, for which «a committee including all groups» will be formed. «This committee will advise us on what to do and how to create a new Constitution», he concluded.
The agenda of the meeting was also marked by issues related to the cost of living, reconciliation, the creation of an independent electoral commission and the impact of climate change on the African country, without details on these points having been revealed.
The president has advocated a rapprochement with the opposition to try to solve the crisis, although several parties have denounced that the authorities continue to repress their activities and have asked for more far-reaching measures to be able to speak of an improvement of the democratic situation in the African country.
Hassan, who is Magufuli’s vice president, has adopted a series of policies to distance himself from his predecessor, including the return of broadcasting licenses to several newspapers and changes in policies regarding the coronavirus pandemic.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
