Latest news with #Tanzanians
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Tanzanian MP's church shut down after he accuses government of human rights abuses
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Tanzania n authorities deregistered a church owned by a ruling party MP after he accused the government of human rights violations ahead of October elections. MP Josephat Gwajima's Glory of Christ church in the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, was cordoned off by police Tuesday after hundreds of congregants turned up to protest the closure announcement. Tanzania's registrar of societies wrote a letter deregistering Gwajima's church, saying his sermons were in contravention of acceptable conduct of religious organizations. The MP last Sunday called out the government for what he called detentions and enforced disappearances warning his congregants to be wary. His message came days after a Kenyan activist and his Ugandan counterpart accused the Tanzanian police of detaining and torturing them after arresting them ahead of opposition leader Tundu Lissu's treason case court proceedings. Tanzanians are set to elect a president and MPs in October and the ruling party, the CCM, has been in power since Tanzania's independence in 1961. The main opposition party, Chadema, has been calling for electoral reforms ahead of the elections. Gwajima was elected in 2020 after he was endorsed by then-President John Magufuli. His popularity has risen over the years and he is seen as an outspoken critic of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is serving out Magufuli's term after he died in office. Hassan is running in the upcoming October election and has been accused of silencing her critics after opposition leaders were arrested in recent months. She struck a reconciliatory tone during her first days in office and lifted a six-year ban on political rallies that was imposed by Magufuli. Hassan's tone has in recent months changed as she warned foreign activists coming to Tanzania for the opposition leader's court case saying she will not allow them to destroy the country. Some activists were deported to Kenya on arrival in Tanzania and the Tanzanian government did not explain the reasons for deportation. Rights groups including Amnesty International have urged Tanzania to investigate the human rights abuse allegations against activists.
Toronto Star
5 hours ago
- General
- Toronto Star
Tanzanian MP's church shut down after he accuses government of human rights abuses
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Tanzania n authorities deregistered a church owned by a ruling party MP after he accused the government of human rights violations ahead of October elections. MP Josephat Gwajima's Glory of Christ church in the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, was cordoned off by police Tuesday after hundreds of congregants turned up to protest the closure announcement. Tanzania's registrar of societies wrote a letter deregistering Gwajima's church, saying his sermons were in contravention of acceptable conduct of religious organizations. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The MP last Sunday called out the government for what he called detentions and enforced disappearances warning his congregants to be wary. His message came days after a Kenyan activist and his Ugandan counterpart accused the Tanzanian police of detaining and torturing them after arresting them ahead of opposition leader Tundu Lissu's treason case court proceedings. Tanzanians are set to elect a president and MPs in October and the ruling party, the CCM, has been in power since Tanzania's independence in 1961. The main opposition party, Chadema, has been calling for electoral reforms ahead of the elections. Gwajima was elected in 2020 after he was endorsed by then-President John Magufuli. His popularity has risen over the years and he is seen as an outspoken critic of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is serving out Magufuli's term after he died in office. Hassan is running in the upcoming October election and has been accused of silencing her critics after opposition leaders were arrested in recent months. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW She struck a reconciliatory tone during her first days in office and lifted a six-year ban on political rallies that was imposed by Magufuli. Hassan's tone has in recent months changed as she warned foreign activists coming to Tanzania for the opposition leader's court case saying she will not allow them to destroy the country. Some activists were deported to Kenya on arrival in Tanzania and the Tanzanian government did not explain the reasons for deportation. Rights groups including Amnesty International have urged Tanzania to investigate the human rights abuse allegations against activists.
Winnipeg Free Press
5 hours ago
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Tanzanian MP's church shut down after he accuses government of human rights abuses
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Tanzania n authorities deregistered a church owned by a ruling party MP after he accused the government of human rights violations ahead of October elections. MP Josephat Gwajima's Glory of Christ church in the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, was cordoned off by police Tuesday after hundreds of congregants turned up to protest the closure announcement. Tanzania's registrar of societies wrote a letter deregistering Gwajima's church, saying his sermons were in contravention of acceptable conduct of religious organizations. The MP last Sunday called out the government for what he called detentions and enforced disappearances warning his congregants to be wary. His message came days after a Kenyan activist and his Ugandan counterpart accused the Tanzanian police of detaining and torturing them after arresting them ahead of opposition leader Tundu Lissu's treason case court proceedings. Tanzanians are set to elect a president and MPs in October and the ruling party, the CCM, has been in power since Tanzania's independence in 1961. The main opposition party, Chadema, has been calling for electoral reforms ahead of the elections. Gwajima was elected in 2020 after he was endorsed by then-President John Magufuli. His popularity has risen over the years and he is seen as an outspoken critic of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is serving out Magufuli's term after he died in office. Hassan is running in the upcoming October election and has been accused of silencing her critics after opposition leaders were arrested in recent months. She struck a reconciliatory tone during her first days in office and lifted a six-year ban on political rallies that was imposed by Magufuli. Hassan's tone has in recent months changed as she warned foreign activists coming to Tanzania for the opposition leader's court case saying she will not allow them to destroy the country. Some activists were deported to Kenya on arrival in Tanzania and the Tanzanian government did not explain the reasons for deportation. Rights groups including Amnesty International have urged Tanzania to investigate the human rights abuse allegations against activists.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
X restricted in Tanzania after police targeted by hackers
Access to the social media platform X has been restricted in Tanzania after some official accounts of government and private institutions were targeted by hackers. On Tuesday, the official police account was compromised, with sexually explicit material and false information that the president had died being posted. The police dissociated itself from the information and said an investigation was under way to identify those responsible. Hours later data from the internet monitoring organisation Netblocks showed that X was "unreachable on major internet providers" across the country. Users in Dar es Salaam, the country's biggest city, could still not access the site on Wednesday although some people in other regions indicated they were able to log on. Information Minister Jerry Silaa acknowledged the hacking and assured MPs in parliament that the affected government social media accounts had since been secured. Earlier, government spokesman Gerson Msigwa warned the people responsible that immediate action was being taken. The problems with accessing X come amid the continued uproar over the deportation of prominent Kenyans - a move that prevented them from attending the court case of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who is accused of treason. On Monday, the president warned activists from its northern neighbour that she would not allow them to "meddle" in her country's affairs and cause "chaos". She spoke after Kenya's former Justice Minister Martha Karua along with some others, who had all travelled to attend Lissu's court case, were deported. Another Kenyan activist, Boniface Mwangi, and Ugandan Agather Atuhaire were arrested in Dar es Salaam by suspected military officers on Monday and their whereabouts remain unknown. Why Samia's hesitant reforms are fuelling Tanzanian political anger 'Manhandled and choked' - Tanzanian activist recounts abduction The Tanzanians searching for their grandfathers' skulls in Germany Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
X restricted in Tanzania after police targeted by hackers
Access to the social media platform X has been restricted in Tanzania after some official accounts of government and private institutions were targeted by hackers. On Tuesday, the official police account was compromised, with sexually explicit material and false information that the president had died being posted. The police dissociated itself from the information and said an investigation was under way to identify those responsible. Hours later data from the internet monitoring organisation Netblocks showed that X was "unreachable on major internet providers" across the country. Users in Dar es Salaam, the country's biggest city, could still not access the site on Wednesday although some people in other regions indicated they were able to log on. Information Minister Jerry Silaa acknowledged the hacking and assured MPs in parliament that the affected government social media accounts had since been secured. Earlier, government spokesman Gerson Msigwa warned the people responsible that immediate action was being taken. The problems with accessing X come amid the continued uproar over the deportation of prominent Kenyans - a move that prevented them from attending the court case of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who is accused of treason. On Monday, the president warned activists from its northern neighbour that she would not allow them to "meddle" in her country's affairs and cause "chaos". She spoke after Kenya's former Justice Minister Martha Karua along with some others, who had all travelled to attend Lissu's court case, were deported. Another Kenyan activist, Boniface Mwangi, and Ugandan Agather Atuhaire were arrested in Dar es Salaam by suspected military officers on Monday and their whereabouts remain unknown. Why Samia's hesitant reforms are fuelling Tanzanian political anger 'Manhandled and choked' - Tanzanian activist recounts abduction The Tanzanians searching for their grandfathers' skulls in Germany Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
