Minister of International Development Sydnes expresses concern about police brutality during demonstrations in Tanzania

Minister of International Development Sydnes expresses concern about police brutality during demonstrations in Tanzania

Minister of International Development Anne Kristin Sydnes today expressed to Tanzanian Minister of Finance Basil Pesambili Mramba her deep concern about the country’s authorities’ restrictive attitude towards the opposition and the brutal way in which the Tanzanian police dealt with demonstrators at the weekend. Mr Mramba is in Norway for a two-day seminar for the Least Developed Countries at Holmenkollen Park Hotel.

A number of people are reported to have been killed or injured in the nationwide demonstrations called in Tanzania on Saturday. The opposition party Civic United Front (CUF), which is particularly active on Zanzibar, has been protesting against the government’s policies.

In talks with Finance Minister Mramba, the Minister of International Development stressed the importance Norway attaches to good governance, democracy and human rights, and pointed out that the Tanzanian constitution provides for freedom of expression, which includes demonstrations. Norway will follow the situation closely and will discuss the matter with the authorities in Dar es Salaam in connection with the review of development cooperation scheduled for this spring.