The government restricted the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly in the run-up to the October elections. The President declared Tanzania to be COVID-19-free in June. The authorities severely restricted media freedom, claiming they were curbing the “spread of false news” on the pandemic. Media outlets were shut down for reporting on political events. Pregnant schoolgirls were banned from mainstream schools and segregated in alternative education centres.
Read MoreRetains the death penalty in law, but hasn’t executed for at least 10 years