Tanzania: Update to Response to Information Request TZA20259.E of 12 April 1995 on the Civic United Front (CUF) and the treatment of its supporters by the government, and whether Muslim women actively participate in the CUF politics in general
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 March 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | TZA28611.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Tanzania: Update to Response to Information Request TZA20259.E of 12 April 1995 on the Civic United Front (CUF) and the treatment of its supporters by the government, and whether Muslim women actively participate in the CUF politics in general, 1 March 1998, TZA28611.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abf75c.html [accessed 4 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The following information was provided during a 16 February 1998 telephone interview with a professor of Anthropology at the University of Indiana in Bloomington. The professor conducted field research in Tanzania in 1995, 1996 and 1997, focusing on art and politics.
The professor stated that the Civic United Front (CUF) is a political party in which women, many of whom are Muslim, play an active role, being responsible for an entire sub-section of the party, called the Department of Women's and Children's Affairs, one of eight organizations belonging to the CUF. The CUF is officially recognized and is granted all political rights. Its stronghold is in Zanzibar, an archipelago which is a semi-autonomous territory of Tanzania, north of Dar Es Salaam, the capital. The professor added that Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim as contrasted to the mainland where a combination of Christian and Muslim populations can be found. The CUF has had problems with the authorities since it has refused to acknowledge the results of the 1995 national elections and Zanzibar regional elections, that were won by the Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, amid allegations of vote-rigging. This is corroborated in a Inter Press article which reports that "the crisis in the archipelago began when the CUF, whose stronghold is in the smaller of the two islands, Pemba, refused to recognize the government of President Salmin Amor, accusing it of rigging a presidential election held in 1995, and won by the incumbent by 0.4 percent of the votes" (12 Feb. 1998).
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1997 states that
In the 2 years since the election, government security forces and CCM gangs harassed and intimidated CUF members on both main Zanzibar islands, Pemba and Ugunja. Because the CUF won all 20 seats on Pemba, Pembans living on Ugunja were regarded as CUF supporters and as a result were harassed. CUF members accused police of detaining dozens of its members including several local leaders. Many CUF supporters left Ugunja for Pemba or the mainland. Citizens' safety is not ensured in Pemba, however, where security forces dispersed gatherings and intimidated individuals. Almost all international donors have suspended direct assistance to Zanzibar in response to activities of the authorities (1998).
On the participation of women in Tanzanian politics in general, Country Reports mentions that
There are no restrictions in law on the participation of women in politics and government. In practice, however, few women are politically active. Eight of 232 members of the Union Parliament are women. In addition, 37 female members of the CCM and opposition parties were appointed to Parliament to seats reserved for women in order to meet the legal requirement that at least 15 percent of Members of Parliament be women. The President has set a goal that women constitute 30 percent of parliamentarians elected in 2000. Three of the Cabinet's 23 ministers are women (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1997. 1998. Washington: U.S. Department of State.
Inter Press Service (IPS). 12 February 1998. Paul Chintowa. "Religion-Tanzania: Church Steps in to End Zanzibari Crisis." (NEXIS)
University of Indiana, Department of Anthropology, Bloomington. 16 February 1998. Telephone interview with a professor.
Additional Sources Consulted
Africa Confidential [London].
African Human Rights Newsletter [Banjul].
Africa Research Bulletin: Political Series [London].
Focus on Africa [London].
Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Reports.
Horn of Africa Bulletin [Uppsala].
Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris].
Jeune Afrique [Paris].
La Lettre du continent [Paris].
