Arrest of Dr Slaa and others has no connection with port deal, says Minister

The government of Tanzania has on Wednesday, August 16, refuted reports that the recent arrest of three individuals was connected to the debate surrounding the proposed investment deal between Tanzania and DP World.

At the end of the week, the Police Force confirmed it was holding Boniface Mwabukusi, Mpaluka Nyangali and former diplomat Dr Wilbroad Slaa for utterances.

In a statement issued by the Minister for information Nape Nnauye, it said the three individuals in question were arrested by the Police for making specific public threats of a serious criminal nature, which include calling for the violent overthrow of the Government of the day.

He said the arrested suspects, publicly sought to incite citizens to bear arms against the Tanzania Police Force, were apprehended to send a strong message to deter any prospective offenders from committing criminal offences.

“The arrests do not in any way restrict freedom of expression in Tanzania, but are part of the enforcement of the law to prevent possible social unrest that may result from calls for a rebellion against a democratically-elected government,” reads the statement.

He further said the sweeping statements by local and international organisations on the arrests have mixed up two separate things: the national debate that is currently openly taking place in Tanzania on proposed port investments on the one hand, and a rule of law issue.

“The deliberate falsification of information about the actual circumstances in the arrests of the criminal suspects calls into question the real motive and credibility of the organisations behind the statements,” reads the statement.

It further adds: One of the more recent statements from an international rights group has resorted to a malicious distortion of facts by erroneously claiming that the suspects were arrested "simply for criticizing a port deal between Tanzania and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)."

The truth is that no one whatsoever has been arrested in Tanzania nor will be arrested for simply criticizing the port deal or any other Government project, plan, programme or policy for that matter.

 He reiterated that the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania will continue to uphold freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and allow a vibrant public debate - both offline and online - about national development projects and any other issues of public interest.

“This government remains fully committed to democracy and the rule of law, but will not make any compromises against breaches of law and order that may jeopardise the peace, national unity, security and safety of Tanzania.”