Dar es Salaam — As Tanzania heads into a high-stakes election year, a storm of political tension brews over the ruling party’s alleged suppression of opposition forces. President Samia Suluhu Hassan, eyeing re-election under the long-dominant Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), faces growing scrutiny at home and abroad for what critics call a systematic silencing of dissent.
The political temperature soared following the treason charges against prominent opposition figure Tundu Lissu, a move widely perceived as a deliberate attempt to sideline a formidable challenger. Lissu, a fierce critic of CCM’s decades-long grip on Tanzanian politics, narrowly survived an assassination attempt in 2017 and spent years in exile before returning to a charged political environment.
But concerns have escalated beyond domestic borders. Political activists from neighboring Kenya and Uganda were recently barred from entering Tanzania. Upon arrival at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, the activists were detained, interrogated, and had their passports confiscated, sparking outrage from regional human rights organizations. Their crime: intending to attend civil society engagements and dialogue forums viewed by the government as subversive.
President Samia Suluhu, addressing the incident during a press briefing in Dodoma, defended her administration’s position:
“Tanzania will not be a playground for foreign agents under the guise of activism. We will not compromise our sovereignty for political tourism.”
In a follow-up televised interview, she added:
“We are not banning activism. We are regulating it. There must be order and respect for national security.”
And in a firm remark that signaled her administration’s unyielding stance:
“Those who come to destabilize peace under the cover of human rights will not be entertained.”
This rhetoric has sparked alarm among observers who see a shrinking space for dissent.
Dr. Nicodemus Minde, a researcher and political analyst with the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), believes the government’s posture is part of a broader strategy to consolidate power ahead of the polls.
“The targeting of opposition figures and foreign activists is not coincidental. It’s a deliberate attempt to control the political narrative and muzzle alternative voices,” Minde told DW. “These actions signal a retreat from the democratic gains made in the early 2000s.”
The crackdown is also drawing attention from the media. Khelef Mohammed, a seasoned journalist with Deutsche Welle (DW), expressed concern over the implications of the government’s actions:
“There’s a climate of fear that is creeping back. The freedom to assemble, to speak, to organize , all these are under siege. And this time, it’s being done under the pretext of protecting peace and sovereignty.”
While the Tanzanian government denies accusations of authoritarianism, many observers argue that the warning signs are too glaring to ignore. Civil society groups, opposition parties, and regional partners are watching closely as the electoral clock ticks , aware that what happens in Tanzania could echo across East Africa.
As President Suluhu projects an image of stability and development on the global stage, the domestic landscape tells a more contentious story. With opposition leaders under legal siege, foreign activists barred at the gates, and a citizenry wary of political participation, Tanzania’s democratic credentials face their sternest test yet.
