Tanzania MPs defend Suluhu over deportation of Kenyans 'exporting' activism

The recent standoff over alleged attempted interference by Kenyan political and human rights activists in Tanzania continues to generate debate with members of Tanzania’s national assembly coming to the defense of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

The lawmakers have labelled the latest move by lobby groups as an export of activism meant to cause chaos and instability. They call for enhanced security checks on persons entering the country.

In defense of President Suluhu, and taking aim at the battalion of activists who trooped to Tanzania, the National Assembly of Tanzania rained slammed the activists led by Martha Karua and former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, who featured plenty in their submissions, and near-unanimous support for Suluhu.

“Sisi Tanzania hatuna cha kujifunza Kenya. Hakuna hata kimoja cha kujifunza. Tunwazid siasa, tunawazidi akili, tunawazidi kila kitu. Na wala swala la kingereza sio la kipaumbele. Hatuna ugomvi na Wakenya wa kawaida, tuna ugomvi na wanaharakati,” said Geita MP Joseph Musukuma.

Elibariki Immanuel Kingu, MP for Singida West, added: “Hata hao Wakenya, baadhi ya wanaharaki wamesahau kwamba hili si taifa la ovyo. Walipoanza kuchinjana miaka michache iliyo pita, ni taifa hili lililfanya kukuwe na mshikimano na amani.”

Taking on Kenyans, who have turned social media spaces into wellspring of memes, and mocking President Suluhu, the lawmakers staged a robust defense of Tanzania’s first female Head of State, urging state agencies to clamp down on those they labelled imported dissent.

Iringa Central MP Jesca Msambatavangu said, “Gen Z ya Watanzania hawajalala, tunataka kuwaambia kwamba vijana wetu wamejengwa kwa misingi ya Baba zao. Tumewafunza uzalendo, ujasiri, uhodari na kutafuta pesa si kwa kutukana watu mtandaoni. Vijana wetu hawataungana na watu wapumbavu.”

On Tanzania’s sovereignty, the MPs brushed off the authoritarian tag by critics on President Suluhu’s administration, who has been accused by right groups for unleashing nationwide oppression against opposition players and enforcing silence.

What started off with detention and deportation of Kenyans planning to attend the trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, now bears all the hallmarks of a diplomatic deadlock, that may yet again freeze the on-and-off relations between Kenya and its southern neighbour.