Resolution on Tanzania

Having regard to credible reports by multiple sources on the ill-treatment, intimidation, violence directed against CHADEMA leaders, candidates and members before, during and after the October 28^th, 2020 generalelections; to the systematic and coordinated disqualification of its candidates carried out by the National Election Commission (NEC); and to the violent and fraudulent conduct committed by the NEC with the collaboration of the Tanzanian armed forces, the paramilitary security and intelligence agencies and the local and regional administration on the polling day,

Having regard to the previous joint statements by the IDU and DUA of March 13^th, August 25^th and November 2^nd, 2020, noting the absence of the rule of law and the freedom of political activity for CHADEMA Party in Tanzania, denouncing the ill-treatment of CHADEMA’s Presidential candidate and terming the October election as illegitimate due to widespread violence by the security forces, electoral fraud and voter intimidation,

Whereas the People of the United Republic of Tanzania continue to show strong support for democratic principles, and to demand good governance and the respect for human rights and the rule of law, but the government has continued to act contrary to these principles,

Whereas, since the election in 2015 of President John Magufuli, of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, leaders, members and supporters of Tanzania’s largest opposition CHADEMA and other significant government critics have been subjected to illegal acts of killings, forced disappearances, assassination attempts, torture, arbitrary arrests and detentions, prosecution on fabricated charges and other forms of persecution, thereby creating a climate of fear and terror in Tanzania,

Whereas CHADEMA has been, for the past five years, illegally barred from conducting lawful political activities, including public rallies and internal party meetings, thereby resulting in multiple arrests and prosecutions of party members and leaders on completely false charges, which often lead to their imprisonment,

Whereas, during the process for the nomination of candidates, in its bid to clear the path for the ruling CCM party candidates to run unopposed in as many constituencies and electoral districts as possible, the NEC systematically and arbitrarily disqualified 63 of 264 CHADEMA parliamentary candidates and 1,020 out of 3,754 candidates for the local government councils,

Whereas the NEC suspended the CHADEMA presidential candidate, as well as numerous parliamentary candidates, from conducting their campaign based upon unfounded and unsubstantiated grounds, thereby providing an unfair advantage to the ruling CCM party presidential and parliamentary candidates in the run-up to the aforesaid general elections,

Whereas security forces and ruling party cadres killed more than 20 opposition supporters in both Tanzania Mainland and the Zanzibar Archipelago before and after the polling day,

The International Democrat Union:

1. Expresses its deepest concern regarding the deteriorating political situation in Tanzania, and the continued ill-treatment of members and leaders of CHADEMA. The IDU is deeply concerned by the growing authoritarianism in Tanzania, once a growing democracy in Africa, thereby endangering peace and security in the Great Lakes Region of East and Central Africa, as well as in Southern Africa,

2. Emphasizes that electoral rigging and violence against CHADEMA is unacceptable based on all standards, and therefore supports its member organization in denouncing the entire fraudulent electoral process and the illegitimate results that gave victory to incumbent President John Magufuli of the CCM party,

3. Joins other interested parties and stakeholders in and outside Tanzania to urge authorities to disband the current partisan NEC and to form a new independent electoral body and to conduct fresh elections based on internationally acceptable standards that guarantee free, fair, transparent, inclusive, peaceful, and credible elections,

1. Calls upon its member organizations across the world and the international community at large to confer no recognition upon the fraudulent and illegitimate results of the October 28^th, 2020 polls and to not cooperate with the ultimately fraudulent and illegitimate winner thereof,

1. Demands the immediate and unconditional release of all arrested CHADEMA leaders, candidates, and members, and the cessation of all politically motivated charges and/or prosecutions against the CHADEMA members,

1. Demands a thorough, impartial, and independent investigation of the ill-treatment, torture, sexual harassment, disproportionate use of force, and the killings of the members of CHADEMA  and civilians in both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar by the security agencies, and to ensure the perpetrators of these inhumane acts are brought to justice and the victims are fully compensated,

1. Supports the call made by CHADEMA for the international community to introduce general and/or targeted political and economic sanctions against individuals, government officials and entities, and corporations connected to or associated with the Magufuli regime and all those who participated in the rigging of the aforesaid general elections,

1. Calls on the member organizations in power, the multilateral financial institutions, and the international development community at large to reconsider their official development assistance to Tanzania with a view to ensuring that the aforesaid assistance does not support, encourage or subsidize authoritarianism and violation of human rights, instead of promoting development. Rather, the development assistance should be redesigned to assist civil society organizations that promote and protect human rights and democratization.