Tanzanian Human Rights Group Rejects Proposal for Chakwera to Mediate Political Tensions

A Tanzanian human rights organization, Sauti ya Watanzania, has rejected a proposal by the Commonwealth for former Malawi President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera to serve as a mediator in the ongoing political tensions in Tanzania.

In a statement released by the organization, the group argued that Tanzanians have no confidence in Chakwera’s leadership due to what they describe as widespread corruption, governance challenges, and political disputes experienced during his administration in Malawi.

The organization further questioned why mediation talks were being initiated before conducting thorough investigations into the alleged violence and human rights abuses that followed the disputed October 29 general elections, in which President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner.
It is estimated that over 700 people may have been killed and many others tortured during protests that erupted after the election results.

Dr. Chakwera announced earlier this week that he had been selected by the Commonwealth to help mediate the crisis, adding that Malawi’s former president, Peter Mutharika, had endorsed the decision.