Following the election unrest that engulfed Tanzania, President Samia Suluhu Hassan has established an inquiry commission.
She mentioned this during her first address to Parliament since the disputed vote. Some of the young people arrested during the demonstrations are also being released.
President Hassan told lawmakers that the new commission will examine the causes of the violence and guide the country’s planned reconciliation efforts. The decision follows calls from U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk, who urged Tanzanian authorities to investigate the deaths and allegations of evidence being concealed.
The protests took place on October 29, when young Tanzanians took to the streets after candidates from the two main opposition parties were excluded from the presidential ballot. President Hassan went on to secure more than 97 percent of the vote, a result that only deepened the public outcry. Hundreds were detained during three days of clashes, and some of those arrested now face treason charges.
Speaking about the detained youth, President Hassan said that “as a mother,” she had chosen forgiveness for those who joined the demonstrations under pressure from others. “For those who were just following the wave, let them be counselled and released,” she said.
The president also addressed demands raised by the main opposition party, Chadema, which has insisted that genuine dialogue must include constitutional reforms. She said her administration would begin a constitutional review process within its first 100 days, according to AP’s report.
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Chadema had been pushing for reforms long before the election and was ultimately barred from participating after insisting on changes to the electoral system. Its leader, Tundu Lissu, remains in prison facing treason charges, with his trial still on hold in the aftermath of the protests. His deputy, John Heche, was arrested on election day and released three weeks later.
