Dar es Salaam. Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on Wednesday, January 17, 2024.
Analysts fear Samia’s election fever may prolong Tanzania’s reformist agenda
Dar es Salaam regional commissioner Albert Chalamila announced on January 14, 2024, that members of Tanzania’s armed forces, including police and the army, would be engaged in a cleaning exercise in the streets of Tanzania’s commercial capital, which would last two days, from January 23 to 24, 2024.
The announcement stunned members of the general public as it came just one day after opposition party CHADEMA announced on January 13, 2024, that it’d organise non-stop and nationwide demonstrations on January 23 and 24, 2024, to force the government to withdraw key electoral bills it has submitted to the parliament.
In normal circumstances, Chalamila’s announcement should have shocked no one. But it did because, in the past, authorities in Tanzania have used the same tactic in preventing people, especially those belonging to the country’s political opposition, from organising rallies in Dar es Salaam that those in power do not approve of.
Full story here.
Tanzania’s newsrooms are increasingly becoming dangerous for women journalists
Miriam John* could not put up with her editor’s behaviour, which involved constant sexual harassment and abuse, making her work as a radio journalist increasingly difficult and stressful that she decided to leave the job she loved so much.
The 28-year-old aspiring radio journalist found herself quitting too early in the job of her dream because, she tells The Chanzo, “the work environment became so toxic that it left me with no other option” than the one she decided to take.
Miriam says that at first, her editor wasn’t so frank with her about his intention, sending the message by rejecting stories she submitted under the excuse that they were poorly done. It was only later that his intention became clearer.
Full story here.
CHADEMA announced plans for its demonstrations against ‘cosmetic electoral reforms’
The General Secretary of the opposition party CHADEMA, John Mnyika, has shared plans for the January 24, 2024, demonstrations in Dar es Salaam.
“We have already notified the Police in accordance with the laws,” said Mnyika during his press conference yesterday.
“We will have two routes for our demonstration. The first route will commence at Mbezi Mwisho and conclude at the United Nations offices on Sam Nujoma. The second route will start at Buguruni, pass through Uhuru Road, and end at the UN offices,” Mnyika added.
CHADEMA explained that they have submitted letters to the Police Commanders in Bungoni, Buguruni, Oysterbay, Mburahati, Msimbazi, Ilala, and Kinondoni. Additionally, a copy was sent to the Dar es Salaam Special Zone Commander.
All the letters were dispatched on January 17, 2023. Mnyika clarified that they are yet to receive a response from the Police.
CHADEMA opposes the three bills tabled in parliament for the reforms of the election laws, saying that the government has not taken into account opinions from stakeholders regarding the needed reforms.
Speaking about the bills on January 13,2023, the Chairperson of CHADEMA, Freeman Mbowe called the three bills ‘cosmetic reforms’ and that the government has no genuine intentions to effect the needed changes.
The demonstrations will also focus on the rising cost of living, CHADEMA accuses the government of having reckless and excessive spending.
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