Tanzanian ruling party tightens its grip with new laws

Subject

Political freedoms in Tanzania.

Significance

Tanzania’s parliament passed a bill in late June to amend eight laws under the Written Laws (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act No. 3. Despite their innocuous title, these amendments, once signed into law, will further solidify the government’s control over the economy and civil society, contributing to a deteriorating business environment and increasingly restricted civic space for religious and civil organisations.

Impacts

• Some NGOs required to re-register may miss the two-month deadline to do so under the amended law.
• Potential investors may be put off by additional bureaucracy and increased risk.
• Civil society’s influence on public policy will be constrained by fear of being targeted under the legislation.
• The government will gain more leverage to put pressure on NGOs on policies, sources of income and spending.