HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION AND THE THREAT POSED BY COVID19 IN TANZANIA TANZANIA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2020 For a Just and Equitable Society “When the fundamental principles of human rights are not protected, the center of our institution no longer holds. It is they that promote development that is sustainable; peace that is secure; and lives of dignity.” Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein ii THRR 2020 Publishers Legal and Human Rights Centre Justice Lugakingira House, Kijitonyama P. O. Box 75254, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Tel: +255222773038/48, Fax: +255222773037 Email: [email protected] Website: www.humanrights.or.tz ISBN: 978-9987-740-57-4 © LHRC February 2021 THRR 2020 iii Writers Mr. Fundikila Wazambi Ms. Victoria Lugendo Editors Ms. Anna Henga Mr. Fulgence Massawe Ms. Felista Mauya Ms. Naemy Sillayo iv THRR 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................................ X ABOUT LHRC ............................................................................................................. XI INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................XII Major Developments in 2020 .....................................................................................................xii Scope and Nature of the Report ............................................................................................. xiii Objectives of the report ............................................................................................................. xiii Methodology ................................................................................................................................... xiii Report Structure ............................................................................................................................ xiv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................... XVI EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................................XVIII Introduction ................................................................................................................................... xviii Methodology ................................................................................................................................. xviii Key Findings .................................................................................................................................... xix Key Recommendations ....................................................................................................... xxxviii CHAPTER 1: CONTEXTUAL OVERVIEW ................................................................1 1.1. Historical Overview ...................................................................................................................1 1.2. Geography and Population ..................................................................................................3 1.3. Economic Situation .................................................................................................................6 1.4. Political and Governance Systems ...................................................................................7 1.5. Covid19 and its Human Rights Dimensions ...............................................................10 CHAPTER 2: CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS .................................................... 13 2.1. Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 13 2.2. Right to Life ...............................................................................................................................14 2.2.1. Introduction.......................................................................................................................................................................................................14 2.2.2. Mob Violence ...................................................................................................................................................................................................14 2.2.3. Extrajudicial Killings and Violence against Law Enforcement Officers ............................................................18 2.2.4. Witchcraft-related Killings & Violence against Persons with Albinism (PWAs) .........................................20 2.2.5. Death Penalty: More Death Sentences Imposed in 2020 ...........................................................................................23 2.2.6. Death Penalty: Presidential Pardon for 512 Death Row Inmates ..........................................................................27 2.2.7. Road Accidents: Less Accidents and Resulting Deaths ................................................................................................28 2.2.8. Killings of women motivated by jealousy (intimate partner femicides) .........................................................32 2.3. Freedom of Expression ........................................................................................................33 2.3.1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................................................33 2.3.2. Laws Restricting Freedom of Expression and Civic Space.........................................................................................34 2.3.3. Decline in Internet Freedom..............................................................................................................................................................36 2.3.4. Performance in World Press Freedom Index: ......................................................................................................................39 2.3.5. Ban and suspension of media outlets .......................................................................................................................................40 2.3.6. The New Online Content Regulations of 2020 ....................................................................................................................42 2.3.7. Arrests & prosecution for contravening restrictive freedom of expression laws. ......................................53 THRR 2020 v 2.4. Freedoms of Assembly and Association ......................................................................53 2.4.1. Introduction .....................................................................................................................................................................................................53 2.4.2. Laws Restricting Freedoms of Assembly and Association ........................................................................................54 2.4.3. Freedom of Association of NGOs: Freezing of THRDC Bank Accounts ...........................................................57 2.4.4. Complaints of Arbitrary Restriction of Freedom of Assembly of Political Parties ...................................58 2.4.5. Amendment of the Basic Rights and Duties Enforcement Act vis-a-vis Freedom of Association 58 2.5. Rights to Equality before the Law and Effective Remedy ..................................60 2.5.1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 60 2.5.2. Amendment of the Basic Rights and Duties Enforcement Act and its Consequences for the Right to Equality before the Law ..............................................................................................................................................................................62 2.5.3. Ruling on the Onesmo Olengurumwa BRADEA Case Preliminary Objections .......................................65 2.5.4. Amendment of the Judiciary Administration Act ............................................................................................................68 2.5.5. Access to Justice ..........................................................................................................................................................................................69 2.5.6. Lengthy detention of remandees in prisons and constant adjournment of cases jeopardizing the right to equality before the law ...................................................................................................................................................................74 2.5.7. Right to be presented before the court promptly ............................................................................................................76 2.5.8. Plea bargaining and its challenges ..............................................................................................................................................77 2.6. Right to Liberty and Personal Security ........................................................................80 2.6.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 80 2.6.2. Personal security of bodaboda drivers at risk ........................................................................................................................81