This archive report was first published on 5 October 2019.
On October 4, 2019, a video surfaced showing Tanzanian President John Magufuli praising regional commissioner Albert Chalamila for caning secondary students accused of setting their dormitories ablaze.
Magufuli's comments came after a government minister criticized Chalamila's actions, stating that only headteachers are allowed to carry out corporal punishment on students.
However, Magufuli disagreed, calling for a change in the law to allow all teachers to administer corporal punishment.
He also expressed a desire to loosen the rules on when caning students might be appropriate, and dismissed claims that physical punishments are a violation of students' human rights.
Magufuli even went so far as to suggest that those advocating for human rights should pay for the burnt dormitories, placing the burden on poor parents who contributed to the construction of the dormitories.
