On 2 September 2012, Chanel Ten television journalist, Daudi Mwangosi had gone to cover the opening of a Chama chama Democrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) party office in Nyololo village, Mufindi South, when the police tried to use teargas canisters to forcefully disperse the party’s supporters who had gathered to witness the ceremony.
Daudi Mwangosi died instantly after one of the teargas canisters that had been fired into the crowd exploded against him, ripping through his stomach.
Daudi’s death comes barely a week after another protester, Ally Zona died from injuries sustained during a confrontation between the police and supporters of Chadema in a demonstration on 27 August.
The police had put a temporary ban on rallies and demonstrations to ostensibly allow the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to conduct the country’s census peacefully. The ban expired on 1 September but it was extended without prior notice after the NBS announced an extension to the census exercise.
“The continuous use of excessive force by the police to disperse peaceful demonstrations and assemblies must be strongly discouraged, and the people be allowed to enjoy their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The indefinite ban on rallies and demonstrations by the authorities in Tanzania is a disproportionate restriction on freedom of expression and assembly,” added Maina one of the famous journalist.
Tanzanians calls upon the authorities in Tanzania to immediately lift the indefinite ban on rallies and demonstrations in respect of its Constitution and international human rights obligations. The government should also investigate the excessive use of force in dealing with rallies and demonstrations as well as the circumstances under which Mwangosi and Zona died.
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