Tanzania’s democratic slide
…From a quiet first gentleman’s farewell to a vice-president’s dramatic exit, questions mount over the country’s political direction
TANZANIA, Zambia’s neighbour was recently struck by two developments which were not so much good news for the East African country. One of them was the death of the country’s first-ever first gentleman Hafidh Ameir Hassan. The other was the sudden resignation of Vice-President Emmanuel John Nchimbi.
Ameir Hasan was the husband to first female president of the former Tanganyika, Samia Suluhu Hassan and the two had been married since 1978. A teacher and an agriculturist, Ameir Hassan kept much of his life in the background even when his wife became President.
Ameir Hassan, according to Tanzanian media, was born in 1946 in a village called Kisakasaka. He did his primary school at Tumekuja secondary school and later moved to Zanzibar Teachers’ College. He was later to study agriculture in Mbeya, Pemba and Sri Lanka. He further pursued a Master’s Degree in agricultural engineering in the United Kingdom (UK). Thereafter, he worked for the Ministry of Agriculture.
In its obituary, the New Times online version noted that the first gentleman never held an executive government position or pursue a political career.
“His public role was largely limited to accompanying the president at official functions and supporting her public duties.”
The publication added, “For much of his life, however, Ameir was known more for his work in agriculture than for his connection to politics.”
The first gentleman, who was buried last Monday, died at a hospital in Zanzibar where he was getting treatment for a heart condition. He leaves behind a wife, four children, three sons and a daughter, who entered politics and serves as a member of Parliament in Zanzibar.
President Hakainde Hichilema is among African leaders that sent condolences to President Suluhu Hassan. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) quoted Kenya’s President William Ruto as saying.
“President Samia has lost a lifelong companion, her children a beloved father and Tanzania, a distinguished son.”
Burundi’s President Everiste Ndiyashimiye prayed for Samia and her children to have “comfort and strength in the difficult moment, “the BBC added.
The second development in Tanzania was the sudden resignation of Vice-President Nchimbi who was running mate to Suluhu Hassan who was elected in what has been taken as a disputed election in October last year.
When he submitted the resignation letter, he did not give details except that he was fully convinced that the president desired another deputy. He added “I can assure you that I will continue to be a good citizen of Tanzania.” But the party could not allow him to.
In the most dramatic reaction, the ruling party, the Chama Cha Mapinduzi expelled him from the party in a move many observers interpreted as a retaliatory act. The party ignored the September 4 deadline, the date he indicated in the resignation that would be the time of exit. Officials sacked him for what the party described as indiscipline.
The Times of Tanzania reported that CCM General Secretary Dr Asha Rose Migiro made the announcement of the expulsion after a disciplinary committee meeting held in Dodoma, accusing the former vice president of unruly behaviour.
The newspaper revealed that a local Swahili tabloid, was banned by the government when it earlier published a story claiming that the vice president was being forced to resign but had refused to bow out.
Nchimbi, a former diplomat in Egypt and Brazil was a senior member of the Independence party who also held several ministerial positions before he stood as a running mate to President Suluhu.
The former vice president who had served in the position for less than a year was further accused of pushing for reforms including the need to reform the country’s Constitution. The reaction by CCM towards the resignation of Nchimbi is an example of growing intolerance of political parties in Africa even under democracy, except in few cases.
In Zambia, then Vice President Levy Mwanawasa resigned in 1994 but remained as Member of Parliament for Chifubu in Ndola and later as an ordinary member of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD).
Not long ago, Mazabuka Central Member of parliament for the United Party for National development (UPND) Gary Nkombo, was sacked from a ministerial job, removed from a party portfolio, could not be adopted by the party to stand in the last general elections. Even when he opted to go as an independent, there were attempts to block him from filing the nomination.
Tanzania, though gained independence as Tanganyika in 1961, the country has been hailed for stability, tranquil transition and push for democracy.
Since 1985 when first President Mwalimu Julius Nyerere stepped down, Tanzania, an amalgamation of Tanganyika and Zanzibar (1965) , has changed leadership through democratic elections. President Samia took over from John Magufuli who died from suspected corona virus.
Since she took over the reins of power, complaints about her using an iron hand have mounted. Yet when she took over, she provided hope by releasing all political prisoners including opposition figures, journalists and civil society activists who were locked up under Magufuli.
But political observers have wondered where things went wrong. She turned into an iron lady by locking up opposition politicians, clamping down on all forms of dissent. Tanzanian media which were once hailed for robust reporting have been cowed into shy caves.
The breaking point came in the last elections when government security forces, police and soldiers descended on protestors during the largely disputed election where she emerged victor. Not many foreign journalists were allowed entry to cover the polls while the internet was shut down. Leading opposition figures were locked up and some of them are now facing treason charges.
Since the last election, Tanzania seems to be losing her democratic credentials faster that one expected. It is not too late for the lady president to make amends, especially that even in the circumstances, the CCM remains largely favourable especially in rural areas.
Hicks Sikazwe is author of Zambia’s Fall-Back Presidents, Wasted Years, and Voters in Shadows. A former Deputy Editor-in- Chief of the Times of Zambia, he is currently Communications and Media Affairs Advocate based in Ndola. Comments 0955/0966929611 0r hpsikazwe@gmail.com
