STRAIGHT TALK : Is this country becoming more of a jungle?

Some of us have been somehow careful not to speak out on the tightening of democratic freedoms in our country, something we used to take for granted only because it was enshrined in the Constitution and thus consider as safely so.

But it is becoming more and more pronounced that those freedom can be taken away at will by the government or its authorities with little regard to the constitution. It is as if this country is becoming more of a jungle.

Few days ago just out of blues an institution just announced that all online televisions were to be stopped as if the people of this country have stopped living or if they are alive this institutions believes it had powers, at this time and age, to decide what is to be watched by the populace.

It is being taken that what we have in the normal television channels suffices the need of everyone even those for one reason or other are mobile and hence cannot access their television sets in the comfort of their living rooms. While with our mobile phones we can access everything the world over, but yet one thinks the local population does not deserve to enjoy local productions of information and entertainment.

And before that has settled we hear other voices that state their desire to see the demise of one of the oldest and most effective institutions in Tanzania – the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS). Again it is to me a demonstration of utter fear of the unknown and also a sign of desire to stifle right of association but also freedom of speech.

TLS is the most constructive professional body which has maintained its cool and non partisanship while its members enjoyed their freedom of belonging to political parties of their choice, until now that. For the first time now we hear the government coming out in public openly threatening the existence of TLS for reason that there were speculations that a leading opposition politician Mr Tunde Lissu is vying for the position of president of the body.

Concern was first raised by President John Magufuli then by Minister for Constitution and Legal Affairs, Dr Harrison Mwakeyembe. I do not believe their interventions were good to the health of this body and to be it tantamount to questioning their integrity as well as their intelligence.

I believe TLS members are capable of making own decision as to who is good to lead them and they can live with the decision. By poking their noses into this only means that the President and Minister are desiring to have their preferred candidate for the post.

If the government was keen on keeping politics out of the TLS why does it not clean its house first? Everyone knows that the post of regional commissioners and district commissioners are executive ones but we all witness how they have been politicised all over the country and so many other examples all over the country. Worse still in such posts and the like only those with approved Chama Cha Mapinduzi credentials are nominated to take them and those from the Opposition have been languishing in the cold throughout the live of this country.

I am of the opinion the government should stop worrying about individual private institutions and instead it should spend more time in strengthening the system that will make such institutions perfume with ability, integrity and honesty.

It will help nothing to interfere or meddle into their affairs because in any case we want strong and accountable bodies to help and support the government in many areas. Choosing leaders for them is not only undemocratic but also unethical and I believe the government would not like to be tagged with those two labels.