Court rejects petition to block draft Bill

Tanzania’s High Court has snubbed a petition filed by a coalition of 10 opposition parties against a Bill they argue will move the country one step closer to a one-party state. However, the court rejected the opposition case on a technicality, citing a law that forbids a draft Bill to be challenged in court when it is being considered by the National Assembly. BBC News reports that the proposed draft law which governs political parties' activities proposes an expansion of the grounds on which authorities can suspend political parties and jail their members. It also gives an official appointed by the presidency the power to de-register parties.