Tanzania Human Rights Report 2008
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Legal and Human Rights Centre Tanzania Human Rights Report 2008: Progress through Human Rights Funded By; Embassy of Finland Embassy of Norway Embassy of Sweden Ford Foundation Oxfam-Novib Trocaire Foundation for Civil Society i Tanzania Human Rights Report 2008 Editorial Board Francis Kiwanga (Adv.) Helen Kijo-Bisimba Prof. Chris Maina Peter Richard Shilamba Harold Sungusia Rodrick Maro Felista Mauya Researchers Godfrey Mpandikizi Stephen Axwesso Laetitia Petro Writers Clarence Kipobota Sarah Louw Publisher Legal and Human Rights Centre LHRC, April 2009 ISBN: 978-9987-432-74-5 ii Acknowledgements We would like to recognize the immense contribution of several individuals, institutions, governmental departments, and non-governmental organisations. The information they provided to us was invaluable to the preparation of this report. We are also grateful for the great work done by LHRC employees Laetitia Petro, Richard Shilamba, Godfrey Mpandikizi, Stephen Axwesso, Mashauri Jeremiah, Ally Mwashongo, Abuu Adballah and Charles Luther who facilitated the distribution, collection and analysis of information gathered from different areas of Tanzania. Our 131 field human rights monitors and paralegals also played an important role in preparing this report by providing us with current information about the human rights’ situation at the grass roots’ level. We greatly appreciate the assistance we received from the members of the editorial board, who are: Helen Kijo-Bisimba, Francis Kiwanga, Rodrick Maro, Felista Mauya, Professor Chris Maina Peter, and Harold Sungusia for their invaluable input on the content and form of this report. Their contributions helped us to create a better report. We would like to recognize the financial support we received from various partners to prepare and publish this report. Specifically, we would like to thank the following partners: the Embassy of Finland, the Embassy of Norway, the Embassy of Sweden, the Ford Foundation, Oxfam-Novib, Trocaire and the Foundation for Civil Society. In preparing this report, we considered reports issued by and information provided to us by various non-governmental organisations and government ministries. We would like to extend our thanks to the individuals working at these organisations and departments for providing us with their research and their thoughts on the human rights situation in Tanzania. The information provided to us helped immensely in our evaluation and analysis of the human rights situation in Tanzania. We also give our thanks to the Canadian Bar Association and the Canadian International Development Agency for arranging for an Advocate from Canada, Sarah Louw, to assist us in researching and writing this report. Finally, we thank the writers of this report, Advocates Clarence Kipobota and Sarah Louw, for their efforts. iii Table of Contents Acronyms and Abbreviations ....................................................................................... viii Case Law ............................................................................................................................ x Legislation ......................................................................................................................... xi Preface ............................................................................................................................. xiii Introduction ..................................................................................................................... xv Chapter One ...................................................................................................................... 1 General Overview of Tanzania ........................................................................................ 1 1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Geography ............................................................................................................. 1 1.2 People ..................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Economy................................................................................................................. 3 1.4. Historical Overview: Colonialism to Present .......................................................... 5 1.5 Governance system ............................................................................................... 6 Chapter Two .................................................................................................................... 10 Civil Rights and Liberties .............................................................................................. 10 2.0 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 10 2.1 Right to Life and Freedom from Torture ............................................................... 11 2.1.1 The Death Penalty .................................................................................................. 11 2.1.2 Extra-Judicial Killings........................................................................................... 14 2.1.3 Mob Violence .......................................................................................................... 16 2.1.4 Killings due Belief in Witchcraft .......................................................................... 17 2.2 Freedom from Torture and Police Brutality .......................................................... 21 2.3 Equality before the Law – Access to Justice and Fair Trials ................................ 22 2.3.1 Legal Representation ............................................................................................. 23 2.3.2 Institutional Capacity of the Judicial System ...................................................... 26 2.3.3. Repressive legislation ............................................................................................ 30 2.4 Freedom of Opinion and Expression....................................................................... 31 2.4.1 Freedom of Expression .......................................................................................... 32 2.4.2 Right to Information .............................................................................................. 35 Chapter Three ................................................................................................................. 37 Political Rights ................................................................................................................ 37 3.0 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 37 3.1 Freedom of Association ............................................................................................ 37 3.2 Freedom of Assembly ............................................................................................... 42 3.3 Right to Participate in Public Affairs ...................................................................... 43 3.3.1. Election Violence ................................................................................................... 43 3.3.2. Disenfranchisement............................................................................................... 45 3.3.3. Private Candidates ................................................................................................ 47 3.3.4. Women’s Participation in Government .............................................................. 48 Chapter Four ................................................................................................................... 51 Economic and Social Rights ........................................................................................... 51 4.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 51 4.1 Labour Rights ........................................................................................................... 52 iv 4.2 Right to Own Property ............................................................................................. 58 4.3 Right to Health Services ........................................................................................... 65 4.5 Right to Education .................................................................................................... 68 Chapter Five .................................................................................................................... 74 Rights of Vulnerable Groups ......................................................................................... 74 5.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 74 5.1 Women’s Rights ........................................................................................................ 74 5.1.1. Laws discriminating against Women .................................................................. 75 5.1.2. Female Genital Mutilation ................................................................................... 78 5.1.3. Gender-based Violence ......................................................................................... 81 5.1.4. Women’s Property Rights .................................................................................... 85 5.2 Children’s Rights .....................................................................................................