General News
Is Tanzania Moving Towards Totalitarianism?
By ‘Gbenga Sesan
Last Wednesday January 30, Tanzania moved decisively closer to becoming a one-party state when parliament approved proposed amendments to the Political Parties’ Act that was first passed in 1992. That was the year that the country adopted multi-party democracy, after 31 years of maintaining its one-party status that it nearly started with as an independent nation in 1961 and made official through a 1963 announcement by the then President, Julius Nyerere.
The man whose leadership influenced the Tanganyika African National Union’s landslide win of all but one seats in the 1960 Legislative Council elections, President Julius Nyerere, admitted that the system brought about “slackness and indifference”. Why is Tanzania now undoing, in 2019, a problem it fixed 27 years ago? There was more than one reason why a move to a multi-party system was necessary; not only to keep the competing parties on their toes but also to avoid muting authentic dissent. It was also necessary to modulate the voice of the party which then had great significance.
In a report by the 1991 Presidential Commission set up to ensure a smooth transition to multipartyism, they stated that surveys showed that the multi-party system gave voters a wider choice of politics, parties and candidates than the one-party system. The Nyalali Commission recommended the formation of the office of the Registrar of Parties whose function as suggested was to register political parties. Since the advent of multipartyism in 1992, Tanzania has seen the opening of the political arena which represented every citizen and brought more competition to how the government accounted for its responsibilities. Opposition parties took up their roles as expected in a democracy, bringing diversity and critical scrutiny of government. A vibrant opposition started gaining more ground during the turn of the new century when they exposed the gray areas that the ruling party needed to address.
However, since 2016, there has been an effective, if largely illegal, ban on political parties carrying out public meetings and rallies. Many opposition leaders, including Zitto Kabwe, have been arrested for violating the ban as well as making “anti-government” comments. While this ban has been strongly opposed, social media has been serving as a public space for the discussion of political and urgent matters of concern. At times, issues are taken up directly with political leaders on social media platforms such as Twitter. When online activist Mange Kimambi defied the ban and made a call for protests, several police commissioners and the minister of Home Affairs ensured the protests did not hold.
The government intensified the clampdown on freedom of expression, following the emergence of the 2015 Cybercrime Act that criminalized criticizing government officials online. In May 2018, the Electronics Postal Communications Act came into play with vague regulations and sanctions to further stifle online rights. Not only are provisions of these law enablers of human rights violations, but they have also gone a step further into shrinking civic spaces.
In late 2018, a bill proposing to amend some provisions of the Political Parties’ Act was brought to Parliament. The proposed amendments include giving enormous power and immunity to the political parties’ Registrar, who is an appointee of the ruling parties’ government, to act as a regulator and police all political parties. In these new amendments, the Registrar has the power to deregister, dismiss and request information at any time. While activists and the opposition have put up a fight to speak out against the draconian amendments, the ruling party has maintained an unsurprising silence. The bill also proposes jail time and hefty fines for breach of the law, still giving the Registrar the powers to manage internal affairs of political parties. A coalition of political parties approached the courts to block the government from bringing the political parties bill to the parliament but the coalition was turned down by the High Court, and was also asked to pay the government for inconvenience!
The government of President Magufuli appears to be in a sworn fight against freedom of expression and freedom of assembly – online and offline – and its stifling of opposition voices clearly contravenes the principles of democracy. As with many African governments, including that of my home country, Nigeria, the government of Tanzania is so afraid of criticism that any such voice is targeted through restrictive legislation. It is now unlawful to openly criticize through traditional media, online or even as members of opposing political parties. Is Tanzania heading towards totalitarianism, away from the democratic principles it has been identified with over the years?
The Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs has questioned some of the legislative provisions that pose a threat to the country’s political diversity. At a press conference on January 27, 2019, members of the opposition commended the Committee for rejecting provisions such as granting the Registrar, Deputy Registrar and other officers immunity from prosecution. The committee also asked that section 6 of the bill be reworded to correspond with the current Political Parties’ Act and called for the removal of the provision that bars political parties from operating as pressure groups. Unfortunately, when Parliament resumed this week, the bill was passed into law.
This infringes on real democracy. Online and offline activities of political parties, and citizens will be restricted. We have seen the silencing of online voices through the legislation that called for an annual $927 registration fee for bloggers and the victimisation of civil society voices, and while I wonder what the reaction of affected political parties and civil society in Tanzania would be, it is important for us to shed light on the clampdowns on digital – and other forms of – rights in Tanzania.
From Nigeria to Tanzania, and Angola to Zimbabwe, Africa must stop this trend of clampdowns that have created a climate of fear online. The continent needs the Internet as a platform for innovation and economic opportunities, along with its natural role as a civic space, instead of a space where young people – who are the continent’s resource hope – look over their shoulders.
‘Gbenga Sesan is the Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative, the pan-African digital rights and inclusion group.
Latest data report from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) has pegged Nigeria’s Bank Verification Number (BVN) Database at 67.8 million registrations (27.97% of the country’s population) following a steady growth streak over the last five years.
NIBBS, which manages the BVN infrastructure for Nigeria’s financial ecosystem, revealed that BVN registrations jumped from 63.5 million in 2024 to 67.8 million by the end of 2025, representing a 4.3 million increase in a year.
The latest NIBBS data reveals a consistent upward trend across the last five years, supporting the rhetoric that the Bank Verification Number has become a major protocol for accessing financial services in the country. The enrollment figures over the last five years, according to NIBBS, are as follows.
The increase represents an estimated 6.8 per cent year-on-year growth between 2024 and 2025, one of the highest leaps over the last 5 years.
The Driving Force Behind the Increased BVN Enrollment
Analysts pinpoint the Central Bank of Nigeria’s policies and enforcement procedures as the primary driver of the five-year upward trend in BVN enrollment.
Some of the most efficient CBN policies behind the surge include the directive to restrict or freeze bank accounts lacking both a BVN and a National Identification Number (NIN), effective from April 2024.
The directive caused a stir, prompting many Nigerians to register for BVN to maintain uninterrupted financial services.
The introduction of the Non-Resident Bank Verification Number (NRBVN) initiative enabled Nigerians living abroad to obtain a BVN remotely, eliminating the need to be physically present in Nigeria.
The NRBVN programme was a game-changer, bringing the weight of the Nigerian diaspora to the fore. Its successful integration served as a significant milestone in efforts to deepen financial inclusion and formally integrate the Nigerian diaspora into the country’s financial ecosystem.
The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to unlock opportunities in Nigeria’s digital economy and accelerate national development.
Inuwa made the call at a NITDA-States IT Stakeholders’ Engagement and Ecosystem Development programme themed “Creating Opportunities, Breaking Boundaries: Towards Digitalization and Entrepreneurial Evolution.” in Abuja
Speaking at the event, the NITDA boss, represented by Mr Ajayi Babajide, Director Zonal Office Coordination, said Nigeria’s economy Africa’s largest by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is at a critical juncture that requires urgent diversification, noting that the digital economy presents a strategic pathway to sustainable growth, job creation, and inclusive development.
He explained that in today’s interconnected world, digitalisation has become a key driver of economic transformation, offering unprecedented access to knowledge and creating opportunities for developing nations to compete globally.
According to him, the technology sector remains one of the fastest growing and most impactful segments of the global economy, stressing the need for Nigeria to position itself to fully harness its potential.
Inuwa reaffirmed NITDA’s mandate to drive and coordinate digital innovation across the country, adding that the agency is focused on creating an enabling environment that empowers all sectors, including underserved communities, to contribute meaningfully to the economy.
He highlighted the implementation of the agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), designed to deliver life-transforming opportunities and strengthen Nigeria’s digital ecosystem. He also pointed to the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF), which aims to equip citizens across various sectors with the digital skills required to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy.
The DG disclosed that NITDA has established over 100 IT centres nationwide and provided infrastructure to support digital learning and skills acquisition. However, he emphasised that sustaining and expanding these initiatives would require deeper collaboration with stakeholders.
He called for stronger partnerships among government at all levels, the private sector, academia, and civil society, noting that innovation thrives in an ecosystem supported by effective policies, access to funding, and enabling regulations.
Inuwa also stressed the importance of investing in innovation hubs and incubators to nurture startups from ideation to market readiness, enabling them to compete favourably on the global stage.
On entrepreneurship, he noted that NITDA has continued to support innovation through its special purpose vehicles, including the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI) and the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), which provide incubation, acceleration, and training programmes for startups and young innovators.
He observed that Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem has attracted significant investments and produced globally recognised startups, including unicorns, but said more efforts are needed to sustain the momentum.
Inuwa further noted that digitalisation holds immense potential for economic diversification, job creation, and inclusive growth, but warned that these opportunities must be deliberately harnessed through robust policies, legal frameworks, and strong institutional support.
He said the engagement provided a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas, co-create solutions, and align strategies for the effective rollout of digital initiatives across states in line with SRAP 2.0.
The NITDA boss reiterated the agency’s commitment to fostering partnerships and providing the necessary support to drive Nigeria’s digital transformation, expressing confidence that collective efforts would deliver lasting impact.
He urged participants to remain committed to building a future where innovation thrives, opportunities are accessible, and Nigeria’s digital economy reaches its full potential.
In his earlier keynote address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology Kogi State, Pharm. Eric Monday, explained that the state’s digital strategy is focused on applying technology to critical sectors, particularly healthcare, where efforts are underway to improve data management and expand service coverage. He added that similar interventions are being extended to works and environmental management.
He noted that outcomes from previous stakeholder engagements had helped shape actionable plans, stressing the importance of collaboration in achieving sustainable progress.
“Our goal is to learn from others while also sharing our experiences. The knowledge gained from engagements like this will help us strengthen our systems, create opportunities for our youth, and support skills development,” he said.
Highlighting ongoing projects, he disclosed that a skills acquisition centre, supported by development partners, is nearing completion and will soon be equipped to train young people in relevant digital skills.
Monday further revealed that the state is expanding its partnerships beyond Nigeria, including collaborations with Chinese organisations, to build a robust innovation ecosystem and open up new economic opportunities.
Describing Kogi as a “land of opportunity,” the official said the government is committed to leveraging its strategic position as the Confluence State to attract investment and promote growth.
Other dignitaries who delivered remarks at the event included the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Nasarawa State, Mr. Damina John, as well as the Executive Director, Commercial and Industry Development at the North Central Development Commission (NCDC), Mrs. Aisha Rufai.
His Excellency Governor Dapo Abiodun, The Governor of Ogun State, has said that the state is on course to establish direct air links to the United Kingdom, following plans by Air Peace to commence flights from the Gateway International Airport to London this summer.
Abiodun, who spoke after an inspection of the airport alongside Air Peace Chairman, Allen Onyema, said the move reflects growing investor confidence in the state’s aviation infrastructure and economic direction.
According to him, the planned operations to Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport will open up Ogun State to increased trade, tourism and business travel, while easing pressure on existing international gateways.
“This airport was conceived to serve our people and support economic growth. What we are seeing now is that vision taking shape,” the governor said.
He added that cargo activities had already commenced at the airport, with projections indicating up to 50 cargo flights between April and year-end, a development expected to support exporters and manufacturers within Ogun and neighbouring states.
The Governor the state noted that discussions with multiple international and regional operators were ongoing, positioning the airport as a viable alternative for passenger and cargo movement in the Southwest.
Onyema, in his remarks, said Air Peace decided to key into the project after assessing the quality of infrastructure at the facility.
“This is one of the best-equipped airports in Sub-Saharan Africa. We will deploy our Boeing 777 aircraft for the London route because the runway and facilities can support it,” he said.
The inspection followed the recent commissioning of the airport by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. With the planned London operations and growing cargo traffic, Abiodun expressed confidence that Gateway International Airport would strengthen Ogun State’s position as a key economic hub in Nigeria.
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