Tanzania: Update to TZA34610.E of 14 June 2000 on the 18 members of the Civic United Front detained on treason charges; status of detainees; treatment of detainees' families by authorities
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 12 October 2000 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | TZA35251.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Tanzania: Update to TZA34610.E of 14 June 2000 on the 18 members of the Civic United Front detained on treason charges; status of detainees; treatment of detainees' families by authorities, 12 October 2000, TZA35251.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4beb78.html [accessed 5 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. |
On 30 June 2000, the 18 members of the Civic United Front (CUF) detained on charges of treason ("the CUF 18") appealed the April 2000 decision of the Zanzibar High Court (TOMRIC 30 June 2000) in which the High Court ruled that "treason [could] be committed in Zanzibar" and denied bail to the CUF 18 (The Guardian 4 Apr. 2000).
According to PANA, the CUF nominated five of the CUF 18 to run for parliamentary seats in Zanzibar in the upcoming 29 October general elections (1 Aug. 2000). Those nominated were: Juma Duni Haji, Soud Yusuf Mgeni, Hamad Rashid Mohamed, Hamad Masoud Hamad and Said Zam Ali (ibid.).
On 16 August 2000, The Guardian reported that the appeal hearing had begun and was to be presided over by Justices Robert Kisanga, Augustino Ramadhani and Kahwa Lugakingira. According to The Guardian, the main ground for appeal was the constitutional issue of "whether Zanzibar is a sovereign state within the United Republic of Tanzania such that if one breaches an allegiance to it the action would amount to treason" (ibid). On 17 August 2000, the Appeal Court denied bail to the CUF 18, even though several had declared their interest in participating in the parliamentary and civic elections (Voice of Tanzania 17 Aug. 2000).
On 22 August 2000, The Guardian reported that the appeal trial had concluded and the judges had "shelved judgement until ... after more research into controversial matters of sovereignty and the offence itself is done." Information on whether the judges had reached a decision on the trail could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
Following the adjournment of the trial, Article 19 decried the fact that the CUF members were denied the right to stand or to vote in elections and that "four sitting MPs [had] missed the deadline for nominations for October's elections" (24 Aug. 2000).
On 4 October 2000, TOMRIC Agency reported that the CUF 18 had appealed to Chief Justice Barnabas Samatta to "ensure that the Isles government observes justice in the three-year-old case." According to the article, the CUF 18 reported changes in the manner in which they were being treated in prison; they noted "that they were no longer being locked in the cells from 5:30 pm as before. Wardens, as of September 12, now lock them up from 2 pm" (ibid.).
According to a January 2000 Amnesty International report, the detainees are denied adequate medical treatment, which, combined with the generally poor conditions of the Zanibar Central Prison, have "caused constant ill-health among virtually all the prisoners, especially the two women and the older prisoners." Further information on the health of the prisoners can be found in Tanzania: Prisoners of Conscience Face Treason Trial in Zanzibar (ibid.). The Website of the CUF also provides information on the health of the detainees.
No information could be found on the treatment of family members of detainees by the authorities among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
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. Please see below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Amnesty International (AI). January 2000. Tanzania: Prisoners of Conscience Face Treason Trial in Zanzibar.
Article 19 [London]. 24 August 2000. "Zanzibar Opposition Members Denied Right to Stand or Vote in Elections."
Civic United Front (CUF). n.d. "Treason Trial Special."
The Guardian [Dar es Salaam]. 22 August 2000. "Judges Defer Judgement in Zanzibar Treason Trial." (BBC Summary 24 Aug. 2000/NEXIS)
_____. 16 August 2000. "Tanzania: Court Case on Zanzibar's Sovereignty Opens Today." (NEXIS)
_____. 4 April 2000. Lwaga Mwambande. "No Bail for 18 CUF Activists on Treason Trial."
Panafrican News Agency (PANA). 1 August 2000. "Tanzania: Opposition Party Nominates Treason Suspects for Political Office." (Africa News/NEXIS)
TOMRIC News Agency [Dar es Salaam]. 4 October 2000. "Treason Suspects Write to Chief Justice."
_____. 30 June 2000. "Zanzibar: Treason Suspects Appeal." (Africa News/NEXIS)
Voice of Tanzania [Zanzibar, in Swahili]. 17 August 2000. "Court of Appeal Denies Bail to Treason Suspects in Zanzibar." (BBC Summary 19 Aug. 2000/NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
Africa Confidential
Africa Research Bulletin
Amnesty International Urgent Appeals. Resource Centre.
Tanzania Country File. Resource Centre.
World News Connection (WNC)
Internet Sites including:
Global Frontiers, Recent News
Human Rights Watch
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
www.ippmedia.com
Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO)
