Tanzanian main opposition candidate Tundu Lissu has been barred from holding political campaigns for the next seven days after being accused of making seditious statements during one of his rallies.
In a statement, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) on Friday said Lisu will remain suspended effective October 3, 2020, for breaking the elections code of ethics.
The commission’s Committee secretary Emmanuel Kawishe said NEC received complaints from two political parties including Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and the National Reconstruction Alliance (NRA) regarding statements made by Mr. Lissu at a rally in the northern Mara region.
The Chadema Presidential candidate is alleged to have claimed that President Mgufuli had convened a meeting with elections returning officers – District Executive Directors (DEDs) in the Tanzanian capital- Dodoma to plot on the elections. The DEDs are appointees of the Presidents.
Kawishe said the committee had written to Chadema to inform Lissu to file his defense but the party’s secretary-general said the letter should have been addressed to Lissu himself and not the party.
“The Ethics Committee is satisfied that notice for breach of code of ethics presented to the party is right according to Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania (1977) because Mr. Tundu Lissu has been sponsored by Chadema to run for president,” Kawishe said.
According to him, the complaints regarding campaign processes are challenged through the secretaries-general of political parties.
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“Eleven members out of 15 have agreed that the complaints were presented according to the procedure, while two said the presentation did not follow procedure,” reads the statement.
The Ethnic committee noted that it found the presidential candidate guilty of making seditious remarks, breaching section 21(a), and (n) of the code of ethics for presidential, parliamentarian, and councillorship elections.
Lissu has however been allowed to appeal against the decision at the Appellate Committee.
Mr. Lissu was on Thursday ordered by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Simon Sirro to report to Moshi police station for questioning after being accused of scolding the police following a confrontation by the police last week.
Related: Tanzanian Police Tear-Gas Opposition Presidential Candidate’s Convoy
