• Big Story
  • News
    • News
    • Consumer Technology
    • Market Updates
    • Technology Insights
  • Interviews
  • Opinion
  • Digital Transformation Series
  • Special Reports
    • MWC Africa
    • Nigeria 5G Spectrum Auction
Monday, July 14, 2025
  • Login
  • Register
Technology Times | Latest and Breaking Nigeria Tech News
No Result
View All Result
Technology Times | Latest and Breaking Nigeria Tech News
No Result
View All Result
Technology Times | Latest and Breaking Nigeria Tech News
No Result
View All Result
Your text
Dr. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, President Tanzania

Is Tanzania moving towards Totalitarianism?

Technology Times ContributorbyTechnology Times Contributor
04/02/2019
in Opinion
Reading Time: 5 mins read
1 0
A A
0
ADVERTISEMENT

By ‘Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative, the pan-African digital rights and inclusion group.

Last Wednesday January 30, Tanzania moved decisively closer to becoming a one-party state when parliament approved proposed amendments to the Political Parties’ Act that was first passed in 1992.

That was the year that the country adopted multi-party democracy, after 31 years of maintaining its one-party status that it nearly started with as an independent nation in 1961 and made official through a 1963 announcement by the then President, Julius Nyerere.

Dr. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli
Dr. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, President Tanzania

The man whose leadership influenced the Tanganyika African National Union’s landslide win of all but one seats in the 1960 Legislative Council elections, President Julius Nyerere, admitted that the system brought about “slackness and indifference”.

Why is Tanzania now undoing, in 2019, a problem it fixed 27 years ago? There was more than one reason why a move to a multi-party system was necessary; not only to keep the competing parties on their toes but also to avoid muting authentic dissent. It was also necessary to modulate the voice of the party which then had great significance.


The government intensified the clampdown on freedom of expression, following the emergence of the 2015 Cybercrime Act that criminalized criticizing government officials online.

In a report by the 1991 Presidential Commission set up to ensure a smooth transition to multipartyism, they stated that surveys showed that the multi-party system gave voters a wider choice of politics, parties and candidates than the one-party system.

Related Articles

Muzakkari: Inside KASITDA pioneer D-G’s bold drive for Kano’s digital transformation

Nigerians now spend about ₦30,000 monthly on data amid hike

Tech pioneer Nkiru Balonwu to deliver QEDNG Creative Summit keynote

Nigeria opens licensing round for International A2P Messaging Services

Heirs Technologies warns businesses on risks of outdated IT systems, calls for tech audits

Nigeria’s Gen Z face rising cyberattacks as scammers exploit fast fashion, FOMO

Multichoice Nigeria’s ₦.7 billion fine signals new era in data protection enforcement

Tech holds key to solving Nigeria’s boundary conflicts, Public Service Reform Chief says

Nigeria partners AWS to launch free Cloud training for students, educators

.ng domain key to Nigeria’s economic future, Presidential Adviser says

The Nyalali Commission recommended the formation of the office of the Registrar of Parties whose function as suggested was to register political parties. Since the advent of multipartyism in 1992, Tanzania has seen the opening of the political arena which represented every citizen and brought more competition to how the government accounted for its responsibilities. Opposition parties took up their roles as expected in a democracy, bringing diversity and critical scrutiny of government. A vibrant opposition started gaining more ground during the turn of the new century when they exposed the gray areas that the ruling party needed to address.

However, since 2016, there has been an effective, if largely illegal, ban on political parties carrying out public meetings and rallies. Many opposition leaders, including Zitto Kabwe, have been arrested for violating the ban as well as making “anti-government” comments. While this ban has been strongly opposed, social media has been serving as a public space for the discussion of political and urgent matters of concern.

At times, issues are taken up directly with political leaders on social media platforms such as Twitter. When online activist Mange Kimambi defied the ban and made a call for protests, several police commissioners and the minister of Home Affairs ensured the protests did not hold.

The government intensified the clampdown on freedom of expression, following the emergence of the 2015 Cybercrime Act that criminalized criticizing government officials online.

Gbenga Sesan

Author: ‘Gbenga Sesan is the Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative, the pan-African digital rights and inclusion group.

In May 2018, the Electronics Postal Communications Act came into play with vague regulations and sanctions to further stifle online rights. Not only are provisions of these law enablers of human rights violations, but they have also gone a step further into shrinking civic spaces.

In late 2018, a bill proposing to amend some provisions of the Political Parties’ Act was brought to Parliament. The proposed amendments include giving enormous power and immunity to the political parties’ Registrar, who is an appointee of the ruling parties’ government, to act as a regulator and police all political parties. In these new amendments, the Registrar has the power to deregister, dismiss and request information at any time.

While activists and the opposition have put up a fight to speak out against the draconian amendments, the ruling party has maintained an unsurprising silence. The bill also proposes jail time and hefty fines for breach of the law, still giving the Registrar the powers to manage internal affairs of political parties. A coalition of political parties approached the  courts to block the government from bringing the political parties bill to the parliament but the coalition was turned down by the High Court, and was also asked to pay the government for inconvenience!

The government of President Magufuli appears to be in a sworn fight against freedom of expression and freedom of assembly – online and offline – and its stifling of opposition voices clearly contravenes the principles of democracy.

As with many African governments, including that of my home country, Nigeria, the government of Tanzania is so afraid of criticism that any such voice is targeted through restrictive legislation. It is now unlawful to openly criticize through traditional media, online or even as members of opposing political parties. Is Tanzania heading towards totalitarianism, away from the democratic principles it has been identified with over the years?

The Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs has questioned some of the legislative provisions that pose a threat to the country’s political diversity. At a press conference on January 27, 2019, members of the opposition commended the Committee for rejecting provisions such as granting the Registrar, Deputy Registrar and other officers immunity from prosecution. The committee also asked that section 6 of the bill be reworded to correspond with the current Political Parties’ Act and called for the removal of the provision thatbars political parties from operating as pressure groups. Unfortunately, when Parliament resumed this week, the bill was passed into law.

This infringes on real democracy. Online and offline activities of political parties, and citizens will be restricted. We have seen the silencing of online voices through the legislation that called for an annual $927 registration fee for bloggers and the victimisation of civil society voices, and while I wonder what the reaction of affected political parties and civil society in Tanzania would be, it is important for us to shed light on the clampdowns on digital – and other forms of – rights in Tanzania.

From Nigeria to Tanzania, and Angola to Zimbabwe, Africa must stop this trend of clampdowns that have created a climate of fear online. The continent needs the Internet as a platform for innovation and economic opportunities, along with its natural role as a civic space, instead of a space where young people – who are the continent’s resource hope – look over their shoulders.

‘Gbenga Sesan is the Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative, the pan-African digital rights and inclusion group.

Share21Tweet13Share4SendShare
Technology Times Contributor

Technology Times Contributor

Related Articles

muzakkari-kasitda-dg-drive-for-digital-kano
News

Muzakkari: Inside KASITDA pioneer D-G’s bold drive for Kano’s digital transformation

byFejiro Awowede
10/07/2025
nigerians-spends-30000-naira-monthly-on-data
News

Nigerians now spend about ₦30,000 monthly on data amid hike

byIretomiwa Balogun
10/07/2025
nkiru-balonwu-to-deliver-qedng-summit-keynote
News

Tech pioneer Nkiru Balonwu to deliver QEDNG Creative Summit keynote

byIretomiwa Balogun
10/07/2025
Nigeria opens licensing round for International A2P Messaging Services
News

Nigeria opens licensing round for International A2P Messaging Services

byIretomiwa Balogun
09/07/2025
heirs-technologies-warns-businesses-on-outdated-it
News

Heirs Technologies warns businesses on risks of outdated IT systems, calls for tech audits

byFejiro Awowede
09/07/2025
gen-z-in-nigeria-face-rising-cyberattacks-
News

Nigeria’s Gen Z face rising cyberattacks as scammers exploit fast fashion, FOMO

byFejiro Awowede
09/07/2025
ayo-eso-on-multichoice-nigeria-₦-7-billion-fine
News

Multichoice Nigeria’s ₦.7 billion fine signals new era in data protection enforcement

byFejiro Awowedeand1 others
08/07/2025
tech-key-solution-to-boundary-conflicts
News

Tech holds key to solving Nigeria’s boundary conflicts, Public Service Reform Chief says

byIretomiwa Balogun
07/07/2025
nigeria-aws-to-launch-free-cloud-training
News

Nigeria partners AWS to launch free Cloud training for students, educators

byIretomiwa Balogun
07/07/2025
ng-domain-key-to-nigerias-economic-future
News

.ng domain key to Nigeria’s economic future, Presidential Adviser says

byIretomiwa Balogun
07/07/2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

four × 3 =

UBA Ad UBA Ad UBA Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Access Bank Access Bank Access Bank
ADVERTISEMENT
First Bank AD First Bank AD First Bank AD
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Articles

muzakkari-kasitda-dg-drive-for-digital-kano

Muzakkari: Inside KASITDA pioneer D-G’s bold drive for Kano’s digital transformation

10/07/2025
nigerians-spends-30000-naira-monthly-on-data

Nigerians now spend about ₦30,000 monthly on data amid hike

10/07/2025
nkiru-balonwu-to-deliver-qedng-summit-keynote

Tech pioneer Nkiru Balonwu to deliver QEDNG Creative Summit keynote

10/07/2025
Nigeria opens licensing round for International A2P Messaging Services

Nigeria opens licensing round for International A2P Messaging Services

09/07/2025
heirs-technologies-warns-businesses-on-outdated-it

Heirs Technologies warns businesses on risks of outdated IT systems, calls for tech audits

09/07/2025
CrownCrystal Technologies CrownCrystal Technologies CrownCrystal Technologies
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

POPULAR ARTICLES

  • flutterwave-secures-payment-licence-from-zambia

    Flutterwave secures payment licence from Zambia

    85 shares
    Share 34 Tweet 21
  • Tinubu backs fintech growth ahead of Flutterwave’s planned Nigeria listing

    104 shares
    Share 42 Tweet 26
  • Anambra State focused on ‘AI-driven future,’ aligns with National AI Strategy

    107 shares
    Share 43 Tweet 27
  • Stanbic IBTC CEO pitches ‘deliberate approach’ to scale AI Adoption in Nigeria

    99 shares
    Share 40 Tweet 25
  • InnovateAI Lagos 2025: OpenAI’s Werkhoven discusses future of Agentic AI as conference opens today

    105 shares
    Share 42 Tweet 26
  • AI in Nigeria bets on nation’s homegrown talent to compete in AI race

    83 shares
    Share 33 Tweet 21
  • AI in Nigeria co-founder advocates targeted AI skills training over mass digital literacy

    114 shares
    Share 46 Tweet 29
  • Google CEO eyes ‘immense potential of AI in Nigeria’ amid talks with Tinubu

    98 shares
    Share 39 Tweet 25
  • Nigeria eye AI leadership as Tinubu, Google hold partnership talks

    88 shares
    Share 35 Tweet 22
  • Minister: AI presents Nigeria ‘unique opportunity’ to hit $1 trillion goal

    117 shares
    Share 47 Tweet 29

Latest Videos

  • TT TV
teniola-advocates-dynamic-billing-for-nigerians

Teniola advocates dynamic billing to protect Nigerian consumers | Technology Times Policy eXchange

14/04/2025
watch-mtn-nigeria-board-lawsuit-interview

#Watch: MTN Nigeria’s board is filled with ex-regulators—is this a conflict of interest?

24/03/2025
engr-banjo-on-local-content-in-nigeris-telecoms

Watch: Engr. Banjo on local content in Nigeria’s telecoms market

23/03/2025
#Watch: Technology Times Thought Leadership Series #Live

#Watch: Technology Times Thought Leadership Series #Live

20/03/2025
#Watch Technology Times TV #Live

#Watch Technology Times TV #Live

20/03/2025
Load More
ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Twitter Youtube LinkedIn RSS

ABOUT TECHNOLOGY TIMES

technology-times-logo

Nigeria Technology Media Group

Founded in 2004, Technology Times’ trusted technology news, market intelligence, views and business services reach readers and partners across Nigeria, Africa and beyond.

Advertising

Sign up for TT eNews

Get in touch here

CONTACT US

Phone: +234 (0) 1 454 1818
WhatsApp: +234 (0) 815 700 0100
Email: info@technologytimes.ng
Web: www.technologytimes.ng

LEGAL & COMPLIANCE

technology-times-logoHome

TT Privacy Policy

TT Terms & Conditions

TT Website Disclaimer

TT Guest Post Guidelines

TT Sitemap

VOffice

TOP STORIES

  • flutterwave-secures-payment-licence-from-zambia

    Flutterwave secures payment licence from Zambia

    85 shares
    Share 34 Tweet 21
  • Tinubu backs fintech growth ahead of Flutterwave’s planned Nigeria listing

    104 shares
    Share 42 Tweet 26
  • Anambra State focused on ‘AI-driven future,’ aligns with National AI Strategy

    107 shares
    Share 43 Tweet 27
  • Stanbic IBTC CEO pitches ‘deliberate approach’ to scale AI Adoption in Nigeria

    99 shares
    Share 40 Tweet 25

©2004-2025 Technology Times, owned and operated by Digital Transformation Media Limited (DTML), Nigeria or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
Sign In with Google
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Sign Up with Facebook
Sign Up with Google
OR

Fill the forms below to register

*By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Big Story
  • News
    • News
    • Consumer Technology
    • Market Updates
    • Technology Insights
  • Interviews
  • Opinion
  • Digital Transformation Series
  • Special Reports
    • MWC Africa
    • Nigeria 5G Spectrum Auction
  • Login
  • Sign Up

©2004-2025 Technology Times, owned and operated by Digital Transformation Media Limited (DTML), Nigeria or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy Policy Page.