I respect democracy, says Magufuli

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.

However, 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), which aims to create more democratic governments.

The opposition runs the Kigoma Ujiji Municipal Council in north-western Tanzania and has vowed to remain a sub-national member of OGP despite the central government’s withdrawal.