Tanzania: A Glimpse Into Tanzania's Political Turmoil Ahead of 2025 Election

Dar es Salaam — At a rally to mark International Youth Day on August 12 in Tanzania’s southern Mbeya region, John Mnyika stood with a determined expression, addressing his supporters. The air was charged with anticipation. Mnyika, the Secretary-General of Tanzania’s opposition party, Chadema, was preparing to speak about the upcoming elections when the chaos erupted. Without warning, heavily armed police officers stormed the event, grabbed Mnyika, and dragged him away.

Amid the fracas, an officer ripped the rimless eyeglasses from Mnyika’s face and callously crushed them underfoot. “They beat me with clubs and the barrels of their guns,” Mnyika would later recount. “It was a calculated move to humiliate and silence us.” His voice trembled with anger, but he remained resolute. The brutality of that day was not an isolated event–it was a sign of a deeper malaise in Tanzania’s political landscape.

Tanzania’s promised reforms

When Samia Suluhu Hassan assumed the presidency in 2021, following the death of John Magufuli, there was hope for a new dawn. Samia, the first female leader of Tanzania, had promised to usher in a new era of democratic reform. She lifted bans on political rallies, allowed media outlets to reopen, and signaled a commitment to freedom of speech.

For a brief moment, it seemed as though Tanzania was emerging from the shadow of autocracy. Opposition parties, long suppressed under Magufuli’s rule, were allowed to hold rallies once more. Political discourse blossomed, and for the first time in years, the country appeared to be on the path toward genuine democracy.

But as the 2024 local elections approached, those hopes began to fade. The government’s promises of reform gave way to a resurgence of authoritarian tactics. The optimism that had accompanied Samia’s ascent to power was slowly being replaced by fear and uncertainty. Political violence was on the rise, opposition leaders were being silenced, and dissent was once again being met with brutal repression.

The return of repression

Mnyika’s ordeal was just one of many incidents that signaled a return to the heavy-handed tactics of the Magufuli era. On the same day as his arrest, Chadema Vice-Chairperson Tundu Lissu, along with over 500 supporters, was detained in what appeared to be a coordinated crackdown on the opposition. Lissu, who survived an assassination attempt in 2017, has long been a vocal critic of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party.

“We are witnessing the death of democracy in real-time,” Lissu told reporters after his release. “The government wants to crush any form of opposition, and they are willing to use violence to achieve that goal.”

The Tanzanian government’s crackdown on opposition figures has not gone unnoticed. International human rights organizations and foreign governments have raised alarms about the escalating violence. In a joint statement, the United States and European Union called for an independent investigation into the growing number of politically motivated arrests and disappearances. But President Samia has remained defiant, asserting Tanzania’s sovereignty and dismissing foreign interference.

“We do not need outsiders to tell us how to run our country,” she said in a televised address, marking the 60th anniversary of the Tanzania Police Force. “We will investigate these incidents ourselves.”

The price of dissent

The crackdown on opposition parties is not only limited to arrests. In recent months, Tanzania has seen a sharp increase in politically motivated abductions and murders. One such case is the abduction and brutal killing of Ali Mohamed Kibao, a senior Chadema member. Witnesses described how Kibao was forcibly removed from a bus by armed men, only for his body to be found a day later, bearing the unmistakable signs of torture and acid burns.

“We are living in fear,” said Freeman Mbowe, Chadema’s leader. “If they can do this to someone like Kibao, what’s to stop them from coming for any one of us?”

The government’s response has been dismissive. Despite promises of investigations, no meaningful actions have been taken to hold the perpetrators accountable. Many suspect that the state security forces are behind the violence, though officials continue to deny any involvement.

A nation at the crossroads

As Tanzania approaches its 2025 general elections, the country finds itself at a dangerous crossroads. The political violence of the past year has raised fears that the country may be sliding back into authoritarianism. Samia, who once positioned herself as a reformer, now faces accusations of using the same repressive tactics as her predecessor.

“The optics are troubling. When opposition figures are targeted under the guise of legal procedures, it sends a message that political dissent will not be tolerated,” says Michael Bante, a political commentator based in Dar es Salaam It’s a significant setback for the progress we thought we were making under her leadership.”

While some may argue that these actions are necessary for stability, Bante believes it’s a dangerous precedent. “Tanzania’s democracy will only thrive if we can guarantee the space for all political voices to be heard–whether they align with the government or not.”

For many Tanzanians, the future seems grim. The escalating political violence has fostered an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, leaving many feeling helpless. “These are troubling times,” remarked Juma Mwinyi, a street vendor who saw the abduction of Kibao. “If they can snatch someone in the middle of the day, what’s to stop them from targeting the rest of us?”

The International Response

Internationally, Tanzania’s political situation has drawn widespread condemnation. Foreign governments have called on Samia to reverse course and restore the democratic freedoms that were promised when she took office. But so far, those calls have gone unanswered.

“President Samia has a choice to make,” says Halima Mheta, a Tanzanian social justice activist. “She can be the leader who restores Tanzania’s democracy or the one who destroys it.”

As the nation waits for the upcoming elections, one thing is clear: the stakes have never been higher. For opposition leaders like John Mnyika and Tundu Lissu, the fight for democracy has never been more dangerous. But despite the risks, they remain determined.

“We will not be silenced,” Mnyika said defiantly. “Tanzania belongs to all of us, and we will fight for our right to be heard.”

For now, the future of Tanzania remains uncertain. But in the face of mounting repression, the country’s opposition leaders are determined to keep fighting, no matter the cost. As the political violence escalates and the government tightens its grip, the question remains: will Tanzania’s fragile democracy survive?

Source: allafrica.com

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January 21, 2023

Air Tanzania Banned From EU Airspace Due to Safety Concerns

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Air Tanzania Banned From EU Airspace Due to Safety Concerns

Several airports have since locked Air Tanzania, dealing a severe blow to the Tanzanian national carrier that must now work overtime to regain its certification or go the wet lease way

The European Commission has announced the inclusion of Air Tanzania on the EU Air Safety List, effectively banning the airline from operating in European airspace.

The decision, made public on December 16, 2024, is based on safety concerns identified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which also led to the denial of Air Tanzania’s application for a Third Country Operator (TCO) authorisation.

The Commission did not go into the specifics of the safety infringement but industry experts suggest it is possible that the airline could have flown its Airbus A220 well past its scheduled major checks, thus violating the airworthiness directives.

“The decision to include Air Tanzania in the EU Air Safety List underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards for passengers in Europe and worldwide,” said Apostolos Tzitzikostas, EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism.

“We strongly urge Air Tanzania to take swift and decisive action to address these safety issues. I have offered the Commission’s assistance to the Tanzanian authorities in enhancing Air Tanzania’s safety performance and achieving full compliance with international aviation standards.”

Air Tanzania has a mixed fleet of modern aircraft types including Boeing 787s, 737 Max jets, and Airbus A220s.

It has been flying the B787 Dreamliner to European destinations like Frankfurt in Germany and Athens in Greece and was looking to add London to its growing list with the A220.

But the ban not only scuppers the London dream but also has seen immediate ripple effect, with several airports – including regional like Kigali and continental – locking out Air Tanzania.

Tanzania operates KLM alongside the national carrier.

The European Commission said Air Tanzania may be permitted to exercise traffic rights by using wet-leased aircraft of an air carrier which is not subject to an operating ban, provided that the relevant safety standards are complied with.

A wet lease is where an airline pays to use an aircraft with a crew, fuel, and insurance all provided by the leasing company at a fee.

Two more to the list

The EU Air Safety List, maintained to ensure passenger safety, is updated periodically based on recommendations from the EU Air Safety Committee.

The latest revision, which followed a meeting of aviation safety experts in Brussels from November 19 to 21, 2024, now includes 129 airlines.

Of these, 100 are certified in 15 states where aviation oversight is deemed insufficient, and 29 are individual airlines with significant safety deficiencies.

Alongside Air Tanzania, other banned carriers include Air Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe), Avior Airlines (Venezuela), and Iran Aseman Airlines (Iran).

Commenting on the broader implications of the list, Tzitzikostas stated, “Our priority remains the safety of every traveler who relies on air transport. We urge all affected airlines to take these bans seriously and work collaboratively with international bodies to resolve the identified issues.”

In a positive development, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been cleared to resume operations in the EU following a four-year suspension. The ban, which began in 2020, was lifted after substantial improvements in safety performance and oversight by PIA and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA).

“Since the TCO Authorisation was suspended, PIA and PCAA have made remarkable progress in enhancing safety standards,” noted Tzitzikostas. “This demonstrates that safety issues can be resolved through determination and cooperation.”

Another Pakistani airline, Airblue Limited, has also received EASA’s TCO authorisation.

Decisions to include or exclude airlines from the EU Air Safety List are based on rigorous evaluations of international safety standards, particularly those established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The process involves thorough review and consultation among EU Member State aviation safety experts, with oversight from the European Commission and support from EASA.

“Where an airline currently on the list believes it complies with the required safety standards, it can request a reassessment,” explained Tzitzikostas. “Our goal is not to penalize but to ensure safety compliance globally.”

Airlines listed on the EU Air Safety List face significant challenges to their international operations, as the bans highlight shortcomings in safety oversight by their home regulatory authorities.

For Air Tanzania, this inclusion signals an urgent need for reform within Tanzania’s aviation sector to address these deficiencies and align with global standards.

The path forward will require immediate and sustained efforts to rectify safety concerns and regain access to one of the world’s most critical aviation markets.

Source: allafrica.com

December 16, 2024