MP Arrested For Using Insulting Words For Tanzanian President

Calling President John Magufuli a dictator in Tanzania leads to arrest. A top opposition lawmaker has been treated the same and charged with hate speech on Tuesday.

Chief whip of the opposition in parliament and president of the bar association, Tundu Lissu, criticized Magufuli about a week ago in a press conference saying the country is passing through a climate of fear.

He was arrested for his speech and on Monday appeared in a court. He is facing a hate speech charge for using insulting words for the president.

During the hearing about 20 other lawmakers accompanied him and pled not guilty.

Magufuli is known as bulldozer in the country for his authoritarian leadership style. He came to power in 2015 and since then has taken several strict steps to fight against corruption.

However, critics point out rise in repression has started in the country as opposition meetings have been banned and newspapers have been shut down. Even the artists and journalists have been threatened for criticizing his administration.

The arrested MP accused the president of building a system that is completely based on favoritism, nepotism, tribalism and regionalism.