Own Correspondent
Former Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC) president, Nelson Chamisa has torn into the African Union (AU) and Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) for failure to reign on Tanzania pre and post election violence and overall election malpractices.
In a scathing statement released on Monday, Chamisa did not mince his words, condemning Tanzania’s recent electoral process that was marked by irregularities and violence against dissenting voices and opposition leaders.
“President Chamisa expresses concern over the excessive use of force against citizens, the violence, human rights abuses, internet shutdowns, as well as the killings, fatalities, and injuries perpetrated on innocent citizens.
“President Chamisa condemns electoral irregularities and manipulation that began
with the elimination, incarceration, and disqualification of genuine and credible
opposition figures, and is alarmed by reports of abductions, forced disappearances, and violence against civil society,” the statement reads.
Chamisa expressed concern over continued disputed and controversial elections on the African continent particularly Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Tanzania.
He was also disappointed by the region and continent’s ineffective response mechanisms that are supposed to be permanent solutions to disputed elections.
“President Chamisa is concerned at the ineffectiveness of regional and continental
response mechanisms or appeal structures, which are supposed to be anchored on the
responsibility to protect principle and the ability to provide effective, permanent
solutions in circumstances of disputed national processes and election.
“The African continent in general, SADC in particular, faces serious escalation in
military coups, disputed elections, and the inability or unwillingness to resolve
electoral dispute, ” reads part of the statement.
He said the AU is an absent guardian, that gains notoriety for endorsing illegitimacy.
“Equally, the African Union has been found wanting by ignoring these ongoing challenges. The AU has been an absent guardian and a missing guard rail. Instead of fulfilling its mandate with and for the African people, it has become a club for the endorsement of illegitimacy, oppression and African people’s marginalisation.”
He called for the immediate release of Tanzania’s opposition leader, political prisoners and reformation of SADC.
“In Tanzania, we urge the immediate release of the opposition leader, Tundu Lissu, and all other political prisoners, and stress the need for a political solution to address the problems affecting the citizens of Tanzania.
“SADC needs to be revamped and reformed to capacitate it to deal with contemporary challenges emerging in the region.”
Tanzania President, Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in on Monday following elections marred by violent protests.
