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Globe and Mail
a day ago
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
Leader of Tanzania's main opposition party could face death penalty
The security at the court building was extraordinary: a rooftop sniper, police with dogs and tear-gas launchers, vans with darkened windows, and a small army of black-masked guards with armoured jackets and submachine guns. But the defendant in the courtroom is not a dangerous terrorist. He is a politician, a leader of Tanzania's main opposition party who faces a highly organized operation to prevent him from running in this year's election. Tundu Lissu, chairman of the Chadema party, is on trial for treason − a charge that carries the death penalty. His prosecution, protested by human-rights groups around the world, exposes the sharp decline of democracy in a country that Western donors have long favoured with billions of dollars in aid. Mr. Lissu has endured countless arrests and attacks over the past decade. In 2017, gunmen with assault rifles sprayed dozens of bullets at his vehicle, nearly killing him. After three years in exile and a long recovery in hospital from 16 bullet wounds, he returned fearlessly to politics, contesting Tanzania's 2020 election as an opposition candidate and finishing second in official results. This year, Tanzania's authoritarian government seems determined to prevent him from running again. His party has been banned from the October election after authorities accused it of failing to accept an electoral code of conduct. Many of its top officials, along with other activists, have been arrested or harassed in recent weeks. And now, Mr. Lissu faces a potential death sentence. He was arrested in April after he called for reforms in Tanzania's electoral system. 'This is not a normal trial,' the 57-year-old politician told the judge at his latest hearing on Monday. 'I have not been sentenced, yet I am held in the death-row block. I am watched night and day. I cannot speak to my lawyers in private. Not a single private conversation has been allowed.' From 2020: Gunshots and tear gas fail to deter Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu He described how two guards keep him under constant watch, day and night. He is even barred from joining other detainees in the prison's exercise yard. Instead, he is required to walk alone in a dirty drainage-ditch area. Because his conversations with his lawyers are closely monitored, Mr. Lissu told the court that it is impossible for him to discuss strategy with them and he will be obliged to defend himself without any lawyers. Wearing a shirt emblazoned with the opposition slogan – 'No reforms, no election' – he smiled and flashed a victory sign at local reporters. Outside the court, his supporters chanted his name and waved placards demanding justice, but their voices were nearly drowned out by police sirens. Most of his supporters were denied permission to enter the crowded courtroom. A senior Tanzanian official told The Globe and Mail that the government's goal is to keep Mr. Lissu in prison until after the October election, to prevent him from running. After the vote, he will be quietly released, the official said. The Globe is not identifying the official because he could face retribution from the authorities for speaking out. Tanzania has been governed by a single party since its independence in 1961. The ruling party, today known as Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM, the Revolutionary Party), has dominated all aspects of Tanzanian life and rarely tolerates much dissent. Its opponents have accused it of rigging recent elections to deliver huge majorities to CCM. Freedom House, a U.S.-based democracy and rights group, recently announced that it had downgraded Tanzania's status from 'partly free' to 'not free' because of the government's repressive measures. Despite this, Tanzania has remained a Western aid darling, and one of the largest recipients of Canadian foreign aid. Canada has provided $3.4-billion in international assistance to Tanzania since its independence, including $141-million in 2023-24, according to data from Global Affairs Canada. As the election approaches, a growing number of opposition politicians and activists have been kidnapped in what amount to 'enforced disappearances,' according to a report by United Nations human-rights experts. They described it as 'a flagrant tactic to suppress dissent.' In one of the most shocking cases, two activists from Kenya and Uganda who tried to attend Mr. Lissu's treason trial were arrested and disappeared for days. They were later dumped in remote border towns. Both gave detailed accounts of how they were tortured and sexually assaulted by Tanzanian security agents. Even churches have fallen victim to the crackdown. This month, authorities ordered the shutdown of a prominent church and arrested a dozen of its worshippers after its bishop criticized the disappearance of opposition activists. The bishop, Josephat Gwajima, is an outspoken MP who has complained of 'creeping authoritarianism' in the country. Witnesses described how police raided the church, even arresting a disabled woman in a wheelchair, dragging her away and throwing her into a police vehicle. Mr. Gwajima has fled into hiding, leaving a prerecorded sermon in which he says: 'They can shut down the church, but they cannot shut down the people's spirit.' Last Sunday, hundreds of his followers held a defiant outdoor service. 'We are not criminals,' said Rehema Moses, a long-time congregant. 'We are citizens exercising our right to believe.'
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Hungary's Opposition Tisza Surges in Poll Against Orban's Fidesz
Hungary's largest opposition party Tisza surged to a 15 percentage point lead over Prime Minister Viktor Orban's governing Fidesz in an opinion poll, ahead of elections due next year. Tisza leads 51% versus 36% for Fidesz among decided voters, according to a poll by Median published in news website HVG. In March, the same pollster measured a nine-point lead for Tisza.
BBC News
17-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
'I no go contest for 2027, Tinubu go win'
Former govnor of Rivers State and di Minister of di Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike don confam say e no get plans to go against im oga, President Bola Tinubu for di seat of di presidency for 2027 as e confam say e no stop being a member of di opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In di build-up to di 2023 elections, Wike bin show interest, buy form to contest to become di PDP presidential candidate but e no win di party ticket. Former Nigeria Vice-President Atiku Abubakar win am and since den, Wike don dey very open, speaking against di party leadership and oda key members say dem dey wrong as dem decide to give dat ticket to di north. Since di defeat of di party for di 2023 election, di party don witness a lot of crisis, defections and in-fighting. For inside exclusive interview wit BBC Pidgin, Wike say di party no stand a chance for 2027 if dem no put dia house in order, even as e say e no get interest to run dis time around. "I no go contest again. I no fit contest against somebody wey I dey work wit. Who go win am except am? "You dey for opposition, opposition no dey show impunity, opposition no dey show arrogance, na ruling party dey do impunity and arrogance say we dey power. "Make I ask you, who dey PDP, Achike Udenwa, former govnor of Imo, e no get one Assembly member, e no get one National Assembly member, e no give im party 3% of di vote, e dey threaten, Saba Egu, former govnor Ebonyi, e no get one assembly member, e no get one national assembly member, you no produce govnor, e dey threaten, wetin you dey threaten, you dey empty. Wetin you dey threaten?" Wike tok as e comment about di crisis wey dey di PDP. E however insist say e no go defect from di party. "I no go fit do dat kain tin, I no be fear fear man, I be weak man? how I go build house, you go come come frustrate me, make I comot, who go comot, na you go comot, I no gree you spoil house wey I build, I go dey dia." 'I want peace but na Fubara hand e dey' On di ongoing crisis for Rivers state wey lead to di suspension of di Govnor, Siminalayi Fubara, Wike say, e dey out of im hands, e dey ready for peace but na di suspended govnor dey run di show. "Dat boy na my boy, my son how I go fight battle wit am? Di pipo wey I dey fight na pipo wey wan thief wetin dem no work. President call me say make we make peace, I say oga how you go tell me make I go make peace wen I no go go. If I no wan make peace, see wia e siddon here, I siddon, some govnors, one former govnor siddon. I tell am say, yam dey for your hand and di knife. Na you know how you want di peace. If you want beta peace, you take, if you want wayo peace, ok." Wike also counter allegations say e dey play dirty politics for im own selfish political interests. "Wetin you expect pesin wey hate you to tok? You want your enemies to praise you? If e praise you e never fail? Wetin I do for my own selfish interest? My interest be say you wan kick me out of politics I say I no go comot from politics, na my selfish interest? You wan take our sometin wey we don build for years, we say no, you fit carry your governance do, na selfish interest?. Wetin I do? Say I support Tinubu? I no tok am before say I go support Southerner? So wetin I dey do wey somebody go say e no know say na so I go do am. In any case, politics na wetin? No be interest? FCT IGR increase from 9 - 30 billion monthly Since e assume office as FCT minister, Wike don commission projects - rehabilitate roads, schools and invest in security. On di issue of generating funds to fund di projects, Wike say dem bin need to look inwards to generate more revenue. "I come here August 2023, dat time, wetin we dey get na between 8 and 9 billion every month, but I sidon wit my team, we say wetin 8, 9 billion go help us do, which job, our allocation from federal government na 1%. We come say we go block dis leakages for our revenue drive, we come dey serious, you fit dey hear say I revoke dis, I do dis and dat na to get our money back so we fit do di job we suppose do. As I dey speak wit you now, we dey hit 30 billion every month from 9 billion." Wike also address some pipo wey dey compare im work to dat of former FCT Minister, Nasir El Rufai "I no dey work make dem compare me to anybody, my own be say di President Bola Tinubu come say make I work wit am, I come see say e dey sincere for wetin e tok, e come give me every support wey pesin wey give you job, suppose give you, I come say true-true, dis man want make I support make I make sure say Abuja change. Na Nigerians dey judge, na dem dey see, I never live for Abuja before. I no dey come Abuja like dat. Dat time wey dem say El Rufai dey I be chairman of council, I no dey come Abuja, e go hard me to come dey tok about comparison but all I know be say dem say El Rufai try.
