Members of Parliament are of the view that there is a need for Tanzania to enact a law to guide restriction of the internet and telecommunications to prevent abuse and violation of people’s rights to communicate.
The law, they argue, should also stipulate situations where the President or any other government official could, unilaterally or through consultation with Parliament, restrict people’s rights to communicate.
MPs’ concerns have come as African governments are increasingly using internet restrictions as a weapon against the Opposition’s capacity to mobilize supporters, especially during elections. In Tanzania, for example, social media sites and SMS communication were restricted on the eve of the civic, parliamentary and presidential elections in October 2020.
Between 2016 and 2020, Twitter, a social platform widely used by outspoken opposition supporters to air their views, was repeatedly suspended. Though the government cited maintaining peace and security as the reason for the restriction, MPs say there must be some kind of legal mechanisms to guide the restrictions.
We concur with legislators and we urge the government to consider taking up the idea. We understand that MPs are not totally against the restrictions as there could be situations to justify it. But leaving such huge powers to only one person without any legal prerequisites is dangerous.
If declaring a state of emergency is guided by law, why not restrictions of the internet? One reason why the law must be enacted is because people’s rights for association and communication are enshrined in the Constitution, which should be duly followed.
In fact the Legal mechanisms can benefit the government in some ways. It would be possible to know whether any disruptions of the internet or telecommunications are by the government or are an attack against the telecommunication infrastructure by criminal elements.
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Tanzania Declares Marburg Outbreak – Africa CDC Mobilizes Immediate Response
Addis Ababa, January 20, 2025</Strong> — Tanzania has declared a Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak after confirming one case and identifying 25 suspected cases in the Kagera Region of Northwestern Tanzania. The Marburg virus, a highly infectious and often fatal disease, is similar to Ebola and is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and monkeys. This outbreak marks the nation’s second encounter with the deadly virus, following the outbreak in Bukoba District of Kagera Region in March 2023, which resulted in nine cases and six deaths.
In response to this urgent threat, the Africa CDC is mobilizing strong support to help Tanzania contain the outbreak. A team of twelve public health experts will be deployed as part of an advance mission in the next 24 hours. The multidisciplinary team includes epidemiologists, risk communication, infection prevention and control (IPC), and laboratory experts to provide on-ground support for surveillance, IPC, diagnostics, and community engagement.
The Director-General of Africa CDC, Dr. Jean Kaseya, has engaged with Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the Minister of Health to ensure coordinated efforts and secure political commitment for the response.
“Africa CDC stands firmly with Tanzania in this critical moment. To support the government’s efforts, we are committing US$ 2 million to bolster immediate response measures, including deploying public health experts, strengthening diagnostics, and enhancing case management. Building on Tanzania’s commendable response during the 2023 outbreak, we are confident that swift and decisive action, combined with our support and those of other partners, will bring this outbreak under control,” Dr. Kaseya stated.
Africa CDC has recently supported efforts to enhance the diagnostic and sequencing capacity of public health laboratories in Tanzania. PCR Test kits and genomic sequencing reagents have been dispatched, with additional supplies in the pipeline. To ensure rapid identification and confirmation of cases, the institution will also provide technical assistance to strengthen detection and genome sequencing for better characterization of the pathogen. Additionally, support will be provided to improve case management protocols and enhance the capacity to deliver safe and effective treatment.
Africa CDC is committed to working closely with the Government of Tanzania, regional partners, international organizations, and global stakeholders, including the World Health Organization, to stop the spread of the Marburg virus.
Source: allafrica.com
