Tanzania President Suluhu orders review of treason charges against post-election protesters

Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan has called for a review of the treason charges levelled against protesters following the aftermath of the October 29th General Election that saw her return to power.

Addressing the 13th Parliament on Friday, Suluhu issued her first conciliatory message towards the protesters since the unrest, issuing her condolences to the families that lost their loved ones. 

She noted that a section of the youth was swayed in joining the protests and were not cognizant of their actions. Hundreds of protesters have since been arrested and charged with treason, which carries the death penalty. 

"Pamoja na kuwa uchaguzi ulifanyika kulitokea vurugu uliosababisha uharibifu wa mali na kupoteza kwa maisha na kuhatarisha usalama wa nchi. Tunapoenda mbele, nawasihi Watanzania, tuongozwe na dhamira ya maelewano, ushirikishwaji na umoja," she said. 

"Ninatambua kuwa vijana wengi waliokamatwa na kushtakiwa kwa makosa ya uhaini hawakujua wanachofanya. Nikiwa mama na mlezi wa taifa hili naelekeza viwango vya sheria na haswa ofisi wa mkurugenzi wa mashataka kuangalia kiwango cha makosa yaliofanywa na vijana wetu. Kwa wale ambao wanaonekana walifuata mkumbo na hawakudhamiria kufanya uhalifu, wawafutie makosa yao."

She called on the youth to refrain from joining chaos that could ruin the country's history, citing that they should instead join the government's quest to build a better nation. 

"Kwa wanangu vijana wa taifa hili niseme kuwa nchi hii imejengwa kwenye misingi ya amani na utulivu wa kisiasa. Sisi wazazi wenu tungeshawishika kufanya mlioyafanya nchi hii isingekuwa na maendeleo mnayoyaona leo," Suluhu remarked. 

"Nchi hii ni yenu, kwa shida zozote zile zinazowakabili msikubali ata siku moja kushawishiwa kuchoma nchi yenu. Nyinyi ndo walinzi na wajenzi wa taifa hili. Nawasihi kamwe msije kuwa wabomoaji wa taifa lenu."

According to court records, nearly 340 people have been arrested for the unrest. These include political leaders, businessmen, local celebrities, and social media influencers.

The developments in Tanzania attracted the attention of global bodies as the UN human rights chief Volker Türk called for investigations into the killings and human rights violations of the protesters.

“It is essential that all those arrested or detained on criminal charges are promptly presented before a judicial officer, and can effectively contest the lawfulness of their detention. All those detained must be afforded the full range of due process rights guaranteed under international human rights law,” said Türk.