Amnesty International alleges in a report published on Monday that Tanzanian President John Magufuli’s government is actively repressing the political opposition as rapidly-passed laws restricting the freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association are being weaponized to control and stifle anyone within the population that opposes the current head of state.

A tactic that the Human Rights NGO states has been employed by Magufuli since his election in 2015.

Concerns also surround the questionable seven-day suspension of the ruling party’s main political opponent Tundu Lissu in early this month just a few odd weeks before the election on October 28 which will decide whether the current president and Chama Cha Mapinduzi candidate will successfully be voted in by Tanzanians for a second term over Lissu who hails from the Chadema party.

President John Magufuli’s government has built up a formidable arsenal of laws to stifle all forms of dissent legalizing repression https://t.co/APcYbdW4PA

— MOT Alain (@TomNiala) October 12, 2020