Tanzanian immigration authorities on Tuesday denied entry to and deported Zimbabwean human rights activist Blessing Vava. Vava, the director of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC), was detained upon his arrival at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam and subsequently returned to Zimbabwe.
According to a statement released by the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, Vava had traveled to Tanzania for meetings with partner civil society organizations. The coalition reported that Vava was held by immigration officials for several hours without being provided a clear reason for the denial of entry before being placed on a flight back to his home country.
The CiZC’s statement linked the action to the political environment in Tanzania following the country’s recent general election. The organization stated its concern over what it described as an “unwarranted crackdown on the democratic space” and called on regional bodies, including the Southern African Development Community (SADC), to address the situation.
Vava’s deportation occurred in the weeks following Tanzania’s October 28 general election. The National Electoral Commission declared incumbent President John Magufuli the winner with over 84% of the vote. Major opposition parties, including CHADEMA, led by presidential candidate Tundu Lissu, have rejected the results, alleging widespread fraud and irregularities.
Following the election, Tanzanian authorities have arrested and briefly detained several opposition leaders and politicians who called for street protests to challenge the outcome. The government has stated that the election was free and fair and has warned against unlawful demonstrations.
As of this report, Tanzanian government and immigration officials have not issued a public statement explaining the decision to deny Vava entry. The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition is a collective of non-governmental organizations in Zimbabwe that focuses on issues of governance and human rights.
