Tanzanian President warns against Kenyan activists meddling

Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has cautioned activists from neighbouring Kenya that she will not tolerate their interference  in her country’s affairs and cause “ problems”.

She commented after a well-known Kenyan lawyers and human rights activists were deported, stopping them from attending the court case of a leader of the opposition accused of treason.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan said “If they have been contained in their country, let them not come here to meddle. Let’s not give them a chance. They have already created chaos in their own country.” Human rights groups express concern that the Tanzanian government is rising cracking down on the opposition in preparation for elections in October. Tundu Lissu, the main opposition leader, on Monday, appeared in a magistrate’s court after being taken to police custody last month.

He raised his fist as a symbol of protest and told his supporters: “You will be fine. You should not fear.” There was a large-scale deployment of security officers at the court in Dar es Salaam, the largest city in the country. This did not prevent Lissu’s supporters, hundreds of whom had gathered outside where the hearing was being held.

The court had previously tried to hold a virtual proceedings , but Lissu and his legal team objected to this, citing the importance of openness.

The Chadema party leader was take police custody on 9 April after his rallying call for “no reforms, no election” – telling supporters that the general election which will take place in October should not proceed without electoral reforms.

Charges have been filed against him on treason with treason and sharing false information online, which claimed to have instigated rebellion and accused police of electoral malpractices.

He denied the charges. If he’s found guilty , he could face the death penalty. Lissu’s team also expressed concerns over the rate at which police were surrounded at the court, which the judges acknowledged, saying there would be consultations on whether this was justified. The case, which Lissu has described as driven by politics, has raised concerns over the state of democracy in the country.

President Samia’s administration has been criticized by rights groups of using aggressive methods focusing on opposition.

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