Global Peace Foundation Encourages Tanzania to Pursue Constitutional Reform and Reconciliation

The Global Peace Foundation has extended a message of solidarity to the people of Tanzania, calling for a peaceful path forward following the recent elections and a five-day nationwide internet blackout.

The statement,released by Daniel Juma Omondi, the Foundation’s Africa Regional Representative on the day that President Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in for a second term offers condolences, celebrates the restoration of digital rights, and outlines a vision for national transformation grounded in dialogue and human dignity.

The foundation expressed its “deepest and most sincere condolences to the families who have lost loved ones during the recent tumultuous period,” urging that their sacrifices “are not be in vain” and serve as a reminder of the critical need to protect human life.

Addressing the five-day communication shutdown that coincided with the electoral period, GPF praised the “resilience” of Tanzanians. “Your steadfastness in the face of a prolonged communication blackout demonstrates a strength that inspires the entire continent,” the statement read, celebrating the restoration of digital rights as an essential step towards normalcy.

*Appeals for Non-Violence and Restraint*

The message contained direct appeals to key segments of Tanzanian society. It called upon the nation’s youth to “champion the powerful force of non-violent action,” stating that “violent protests have no place in a modern, civilized society.”

Simultaneously, GPF urged Tanzanian security agencies to “exercise the highest degree of professionalism and restraint,” imploring them to “desist from the use of deadly force in response to peaceful assemblies” and to balance law and order with the upholding of fundamental human rights.

*A Roadmap for National Transformation*

Framing its recommendations within the context of East African fraternity, GPF stated that the moment calls for “deep national reflection and healing.” The core of its proposal is a call for a “new, people-centered constitution” designed to prevent a recurrence of recent events.

The proposed constitutional reforms would focus on two key pillars:

1. Providing Clear Judicial Recourse: Establishing robust, independent mechanisms for the fair adjudication of electoral disputes.

2. Safeguarding Fundamental Freedoms: Enshrining freedoms of speech, association, and communication as inviolable rights that no single entity can arbitrarily revoke.

Furthermore, the statement joined growing calls for “the release of all political prisoners and the implementation of comprehensive electoral reforms to level the playing field for all.”

*Invoking the Legacy of Nyerere*

In a poignant conclusion, the Foundation invoked the legacy of Tanzania’s founding father, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, noting he “would be deeply saddened to see the nation he loved grappling with such issues.” The pursuit of a just constitution, the statement affirmed, is “the true fulfilment of his vision.”

The message closed with a note of solidarity: “Your strength is our strength; your peace, our peace. We stand with you in solidarity and hope for a united and prosperous Tanzania.”