Two Arrested Initiating Protest Against Magufuli

The increasing authoritarianism of Tanzanian President John Magufuli is now being protested. A call has been made on social media by an opposition activist for April 26. The message has been spread widely in past sevearl weeks. To overcome such protest a harsh response has been prompted by the government.

Police arrested a farmer and a drive on Wednesday alleging the two were urging others to protest against Magufuli on social media.

Police chief from central Dodoma region Gilles Muroto said, “These two people here were inciting others to protest on April 26, saying on social media that there is no freedom, that there is a dictatorship, which is totally false.”

Muroto added people have been warned such protests would not be accepted and the two arrests will serve as a lesson to others who are on the same line.

He further continued that protestors would end up with broken legs and thereafter go home crippling.

Earlier this month Magufuli too warned the people protests would result with tough consequences.

In his speech the president said, “Some people have failed to engage in real politics and would like to see street protests every day… let them demonstrate and they will see who I am.”

The Interior Minister Mwigulu Nchemba said even those citizens would be arrested who are protesting from home through social media.

Magufuli is known as corruption-fighting man of the people in the country and this has led him earning immense criticism. He took office in 2015.