Tanzania--Human
Rights
According
to the Permanent
Constitution
of 1977,
Tanzania
recognizes
that all
human beings
have equal
rights to
dignity
and respect.
Nevertheless,
it maintained
that these
rights were
only guaranteed
under a
self-reliant
socialist
nation,
and more
particularly
under the
one-party
rule of
the Chama
Cha Mapinduzi
(CCM). This
party's
membership
was broadly
based; any
citizen
eighteen
years or
older could
join if
he or she
accepted
the beliefs,
aims, and
objectives
of the CCM.
Among
the rights
and principles
recognized
in Tanzania's
constitution
were the
following:
the principles
of the equality
and dignity
of all human
beings;
their right
to life,
liberty,
and property;
freedoms
of conscience,
expression,
and association;
the right
to participate
in government;
the duty
to uphold
the laws
of the state;
the obligation
to respect
the rights
and dignities
of others
and to prevent
the exploitation
of one human
being by
another;
and the
duty to
conduct
affairs
of the state
so that
the nation's
resources
would be
preserved,
developed,
and enjoyed
for the
benefit
of all its
citizens.
The government
was to be
democratically
elected,
responsible
to a representative
parliament,
its laws
to be interpreted
by free,
and have
impartial
courts of
law. Voting
rights were
granted
to all citizens
at least
21 years
old.
Comparison
with other
democratic
constitutions
makes it
clear that
Tanzania's
constitution
omitted
mention
of certain
individual
rights recognized
elsewhere.
These include
the following:
the right
to a fair
trial by
an impartial
judiciary,
and the
freedom
from discrimination
on grounds
of race,
tribe, color,
sex, creed,
or religion.
Freedom
of religion
and equality
of opportunity
for all
men and
women, irrespective
of race,
religion,
or status
were recognized
in the constitution
under the
Tanganyuika
African
National
Union (TANU),
but dropped
from the
constitution
under the
CCM in 1977.
Since
the reforms
that accompanied
its transition
to a multi-party
state, Tanzania
has enjoyed
a relatively
good international
reputation
regarding
human rights,
particularly
when compared
with neighboring
countries
including
Sudan, Uganda,
Ethiopia,
and Somalia.
Tanzania's
judicial
system is
comparatively
independent
from government
involvement.
Nonetheless,
the nation
has enacted
several
laws that
permit the
infringement
of human
rights,
including
the Preventive
Detention
Act, which
allows the
government
to detain
indefinitely
and without
bail persons
considered
threatening
to national
security.
Political
criminals
may also
be exiled
internally
under the
provisions
of a "Deportation
Act."
The press
enjoys relative
freedom
of expression,
but the
president
reserves
the right
to restrict
publications
contrary
to the interest
of the people.
To reduce
flight from
villages
to cities,
the government
maintained
at one time
internal
travel controls;
in the process
of enforcing
these, violations
of human
rights were
frequently
reported.
These controls
have since
been lifted.
The government
also restricts
the rightsof
assembly
and association
by requiring
that opposition
parties
be registered
and that
groups seek
permission
to stage
public rallies.