This archive report was first published on 26 September 2019.
Published on September 26, 2019, a Tanzanian court has blocked two top politicians from the opposition Chadema party from traveling abroad until they are cleared of sedition charges.
Vincent Mashinji, Chadema's secretary-general, and MP Esther Matiko are facing charges, along with seven others including Chadema's leader, for participating in a protest in February 2018 that resulted in the death of a 22-year-old student.
The court rejected the lawyers' request to adjourn the case and allow the politicians to travel abroad for separate meetings, citing that it would delay the case.
Magistrate Thomas Simba stated in court, 'The accused are supposed to start their defence on charges facing them, so by allowing them to travel it will derail the case.'
The case has been adjourned until October 7, when the defence will start to put forward its case.
President John Magufuli has been criticized for limiting political freedoms since coming to power in 2015, and has banned political rallies.
