Premier ‘respects democracy’

DAR ES SALAAM: Tanzanian President John Magufuli has denied claims by rights groups that he is cracking down on political opponents and asserted that he respects democracy.

But on Monday the Tanzanian government threatened to disband an opposition-led municipal council if it continued to defy the government and maintain membership in the Open Government Partnership (OGP). The opposition runs the Kigoma Ujiji Municipal Council and has vowed to remain an OGP sub-national despite the central government’s withdrawal.