Tanzania’s political opposition held its first major protest in years on Wednesday to demand constitutional changes to reduce presidential powers and reform of the electoral commission ahead of a general election due next year.<\/p>\n
President Samia Suluhu Hassan last year lifted a ban on most political rallies that her predecessor John Magufuli had imposed in 2016 and has eased other restrictions on media and opposition parties.<\/p>\n
However, Hassan faced criticism from human rights activists last year after several people were arrested for planning protests against a\u00a0port management deal.<\/p>\n
Wednesday’s protest in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam was called by the opposition Party for Democracy and Progress, known as CHADEMA.<\/p>\n
CHADEMA says it is impossible to have free and fair elections next year under the current constitution, which was adopted in 1977 when Tanzania was under single-party rule. Protesters also called on authorities to bring down the cost of living.<\/p>\n
Thousands of CHADEMA supporters marched through Dar es Salaam waving banners that carried slogans pushing for an independent electoral body and constitutional reforms. Police officers accompanied the marchers.<\/p>\n
“I’m here to push for the new constitution and for the new electoral laws which will bring accountable leaders,” Ananilea Nkya, a rights activist and one of the protesters told Reuters as she walked.<\/p>\n
“I will continue to fight and protest until we get all of these.”<\/p>\n
CHADEMA is pushing for a new constitution that trims presidential powers and also strengthens the independence of the country’s electoral body.<\/p>\n
Previous attempts to reform the constitution have failed. In 2015, the government cancelled a planned constitutional referendum after the electoral commission said it needed more time to register voters.<\/p>\n
Hassan is expected to run for a new term in next year’s election.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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