Tanzania’s main opposition party has suspended protests scheduled for Thursday, to give time for negotiations with the government that has called its planned demonstrations illegal.
President John Magufuli said in July he would crack down on troublemakers “without mercy” after the opposition CHADEMA party called for nationwide demonstrations on Sep. 1.
Magufuli, nicknamed “the bulldozer” for pushing through his policies, has won some praise from Western donors for anti-corruption drives and curbing wasteful government spending since coming to power in November
Opposition have accused him of becoming increasingly authoritarian, undermining democracy by curbing political activity and restricting live TV coverage of parliamentary sessions.
CHADEMA said it was heeding calls from religious leaders to postpone its “day of defiance” for a month to give clerics time to hold talks with Magufuli and plead with him to give opposition parties more democratic space.
CHADEMA’s national chairman, Freeman Mbowe told journalists that the nationwide rallies and demonstrations planned for Sept.1 have been suspended to allow religious leaders to resolve the issue of dialogue.
“If efforts by our religious leaders do not bear fruit … we will hold our planned peaceful demonstrations on Oct. 1.” Reuters reports
