Court rejects debate petition

DAR ES SALAAM: Tanzania’s High Court yesterday rejected a petition from some opposition leaders to halt parliamentary debate on draft legislation they say would criminalise many legitimate political activities and cement “one-party” rule.

Accusing opposition groups of trying to foment violence to derail economic reforms, President John Magufuli’s government wants to amend the law governing political parties.

The changes would expand grounds on which authorities can suspend political parties and jail their members. Critics say that would sharply curb freedoms and prevent an effective challenge to Magufuli and the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party in next year’s general election.

Tanzania, a nation of 57 million people, has long been regarded as one of Africa’s most stable democracies.

However, since Magufuli was elected in 2015, his administration has implemented draconian curbs including banning newspapers, restricting opposition rallies and detaining dozens of their members. The 59-year-old has been nicknamed “The Bulldozer”.

Zokwana was supported by Dr Mpho Maja, the director of Animal Health, who said her unit would always ensure that all cattle at abattoirs around the country did not have foot-and-mouth disease.

Zokwana and Maja were addressing the media after a meeting with various agricultural organisations, farmers and research institutions.

All parties expressed confidence that the red-meat market was safe and jointly urged South Africans not to panic.

Zokwana, however, conceded that the confirmation of the disease led the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) to suspend South Africa’s foot-and-mouth-free status.

“This temporary suspension has caused a few neighbouring trading countries to ban our exports. These bans have caused serious financial loss to the industry,” Zokwana said.

He said they were still counting the loss to the economy.

Zokwana said their meeting with industry players and government was to discuss measures to be taken to convince neighbouring countries and other trading partners that the local red-meat market was safe.

He added that they had agreed with industry players to form a technical team to fight the current outbreak of the disease and that the task team would look beyond foot-and-mouth disease to discover other market opportunities.

“The impact that this has had on trade in the past week has been devastating, to say the least.

“I urge all affected industries to work with my team in minimising the impact.

“This can be achieved if we all take responsibility to avoid unnecessary panic and stress, and by approaching trade partners for the necessary confirmations of trade of cloven-hoofed products to their territories,” Zokwana said.

Senzeni Zokwana