IYDU PRESS RELEASE

INTERNATIONAL YOUNG DEMOCRAT UNION (IYDU)

TANZANIA GOVERNMENT SHOULD FORM JUDICIAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY TO INVESTIGATE THE KILLINGS AND TORTURES OF INNOCENT CITIZENS IN TANZANIA

Dear Members of the Tanzania press,

On behalf of the International Democrat Union (IYDU), the global alliance of over 120 centre right political youth organizations from over 80 countries, its members and board I would like to thank you for taking the time to attend this extremely important press conference. Over the last couple of years the IYDU has become extremely concerned about the recent developments in Tanzanian politics. We have become increasingly concerned about attempts by the ruling party in Tanzania to silence and suppress the press and political opposition.

In 2012 we issued a declaration on the killing of Daud Mwangosi, a journalist who was reporting on the activities of CHADEMA, the kidnap of a Dr Stephen Ulimboka and the numerous attempts to silence CHADEMA through police force and brutality. The IYDU called for the Tanzanian Government to address both matters however no investigation into the killing has taken place, and CHADEMA has continued to face increasing interference from the government in exercising its democratic right to hold political rallies and for its members and supporters to freely assemble without fear of threat, violence or arrest.

The IYDU has never held an event in Sub-Saharan Africa before. However our concerns over the deteriorating situation in Tanzania in the lead up to the 2015 Tanzanian elections and a desire to give attention and a voice to our Member BAVICHA, their mother party CHADEMA and our other African members, resulted in the board deciding to come to Tanzania. During our visit to Tanzania IYDU delegates have met with a number of high profiled speakers from the Tanzanian political, press and legal communities. With these speakers we have discussed the Tanzanian political and socio-economic situation at length, openly and candidly in a number of seminars and panel discussions.

In the board meeting, our member BAVICHA presented a country report which showed the extent of human rights violations in Tanzania. The report detailed a number of atrocities which have recently taken place in Tanzania including political killings, torture and harassment. The IYDU is deeply worried by this report. The killings of innocent citizens, torture or any sort of humiliation is not acceptable under any circumstances. The IYDU has also been informed that a number of activists have been kidnapped and that a bomb attack recently took place. In both cases the government has remained silent and failed to have these acts investigated.

On a personal level the IYDU is also extremely worried about that an increasing number of members of our member organization BAVICHA who have been imprisoned and investigated on false charges for their political involvement. The IYDU strongly supports BAVICHA and strongly condemns the behavior of the Tanzanian government. We stand with CHADEMA and insist that the government of this country allow judicial inquiries and investigations to be held in respect of these matters and for those behind them to be held accountable. The IYDU will ensure that what we have learnt about the situation in Tanzania is reported to our members and will strongly encourage our members to report on these activities to their senior parties many of whom are currently in power in their respective countries, and call on them to place pressure on the Tanzanian government to be accountable and respect democracy.

The IYDU believes that true democracy only exists when people are empowered to have a voice and allowed to freely elect who should govern them without fear of repercussions or violence. The IYDU would like to thank BAVICHA for organizing the event and for their commitment to promoting the IYDU’s core values of Democracy, Human Rights, Free Market and Free Trade in Tanzania. BAVICHA Chairman John Heche and Secretary General Deogratias Munishi have worked tirelessly to put together an exceptional programme with an aim of giving the international youth community greater insights in to the plight of political opposition, press and people of Tanzania.

The IYDU would like to extend its sincerest gratitude to BAVICHA’s mother party, CHADEMA for the kindness, openness and respect they have showed us during our time in Tanzania. We are especially grateful to CHADEMA’s Secretary General Dr Slaa and Chairman, Hon Freeman Mbowe (MP) who took the time to meet with us. Following this conference I request that you all return to your respective publications and media outlets and convey the IYDU’s message to the people of Tanzania and the international community at large. In closing the IYDU calls on the ruling party in Tanzania to respect the rights of CHADEMA, BAVICHA, the press and people of Tanzania

Aris Kalafatis,

IYDU Chairman