Police beat up two observers, CBOs quit BVR monitoring
The Tanzania Civil Society Consortium on Election Observation (Tacceo) chairperson Martina Kabisama announces a decision to withdraw voters registration monitoring mission in Njombe at a press conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday. With her is the executive director of the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) who is also the Tacceo coordinator, Dr Hellen Kijo-Bisimba. PHOTO | EMMANUEL HERMAN
What you need to know:
- Two observers were beaten up by police on Saturday at a guest house in Njombe Region
- Tanzania Civil Society Consortium on Election Observation said they are withdrawing their observers on the ground and will only resume the mission after they are assured of their safety
Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Civil Society Consortium on Election Observation (Tacceo) has announced halting monitoring of the ongoing voter registration following an allegedly police attack on its observers in Makambako Town, Njombe Region.
Tacceo chairperson Martina Kabisama yesterday told journalists in Dar es Salaam that two of its six observers, Mr Humphrey Josiah and Mr Wilson Raphael, were beaten up by armed police on Saturday at a guest house in which they were residing.
“They (police) accused them of stealing laptops in Mufindi Town. Our observers tried to explain themselves but they were severely beaten by four armed policemen,” she said.
“They (police) found nothing suspicious after inspecting the room. They just apologised and left without taking the two (Mr Josiah and Mr Raphael) to hospital,” she added.
According to Ms Kabisama, before deploying their team to monitor the registration which is now conducted electronically using Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits,Tacceo secured a permit from the National Electoral Commission (NEC).
“Upon arrival in Njombe, the team paid a visit to relevant authorities, including the police, to inform them of their presence as required.
For his part NEC chairman Judge (rtd) Damian Lubuva said he was yet to receive official information about the incident, but said “that was very unfortunate, I will work on it when it gets to my desk.”
He said until he left Njombe on Sunday all was well, neither him nor any of his officers learnt about the attack.
When contacted yesterday, Njombe regional police commander Furgence Ngonyani said the matter was now under investigation.
“We have received the complaints and investigations were already underway, I can’t say when it will be completed,” said the RPC.
The executive director of Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) who is also the Tacceo coordinator, Dr Hellen Kijo-Bisimba, said they are withdrawing their observers on the ground and will only resume the mission after they are assured of their safety.
“We are not giving up, but we want a free and secured environment for all. If we, the advocates of human rights are still suffering from police brutality, then what is to become of ordinary Tanzanians? Monitoring is a crucial task but our lives are of paramount importance,” she said.
