Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE government has dismissed recent allegations raised by Amnesty International, describing them as sweeping, unsubstantiated and inconsistent with the country’s human rights and governance framework.
In an official statement released yesterday, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports and Chief Government Spokesperson, Mr Gerson Msigwa expressed the government’s concern over the report, saying it was released without offering authorities a fair opportunity to respond.
“While Tanzania remains open to constructive engagement with international partners, it is regrettable that Amnesty International has chosen to publish a brief containing sweeping and unsubstantiated claims without affording the government a fair opportunity to respond before its release,” the statement read.
According to the statement, such an approach undermines the principles of objectivity and mutual respect that should guide international human rights dialogue.
Recently, Amnesty International released a brief titled “Unopposed, Unchecked, Unjust: ‘Wave of Terror’ Sweeps Tanzania Ahead of 2025 Vote”, claiming that Tanzania is experiencing a worsening human rights situation ahead of the October 2025 General Election.
The report alleged that as the country approaches this year’s election, authorities have increasingly relied on repressive laws to suppress dissent, targeting journalists, civil society organisations, human rights defenders and opposition figures.
According to Amnesty International, between January 2024 and October 2025, there have been widespread and systematic violations, including enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, torture, unlawful killings and severe restrictions on freedoms of movement, expression and peaceful assembly.
According to the statement by the government, Amnesty International’s portrayal of Tanzania as a nation that tolerates arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and suppression of freedoms is misleading and does not reflect the reality on the ground.
“Tanzania enforces a zerotolerance policy toward torture and other forms of cruel and inhumane treatment, any allegations of misconduct are investigated by competent authorities such as the Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance (CHRAGG), the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Judiciary,” the statement reads.
The government has reaffirmed its commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights, as guaranteed under the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania (1977, as amended) and in accordance with international and regional human rights instruments to which Tanzania is a party, including the ICCPR, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Convention Against Torture.
The government further stressed that freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and access to information are protected under the Constitution and regulated through laws such as the Media Services Act, the Access to lnformation Act and the Online Content Regulations.
“These laws are implemented in conformity with Article 19(3) of the ICCPR, which permits limited restrictions necessary to protect national security, public order and the rights of others,” the statement further reads.
Addressing concerns about the electoral process ahead of the 2025 General Election, the government said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) operates independently as guaranteed by Article Electoral 74 (1) of the Constitution.
“Tanzania continues to facilitate election observation and uphold the principles of transparency, impartiality and equal political participation,” the statement reads.
It further said “The government of Tanzania reiterates that it does not condone enforced disappearances or extrajudicial killings. Any reported incident is subject to thorough investigation and legal redress. The judiciary remains independent and all persons are entitled to fair trial guarantees under both domestic and international law.”
According to the statement, the government remains committed to democratic governance, the rule of law and the protection of human rights before, during and after the 2025 General Election.
“Tanzania remains open to dialogue with all stakeholders who seek to engage in good faith and ‘encourages all institutions to communicate directly with relevant authorities before publishing materials that are misleading to the public,” reads part of the statement.
For More News And Analysis About Tanzania Follow Africa-Press
