Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of charges of sedition against former members of the Government of Tanzania on the democratic process in that country.

The UK remains concerned about the closing down of political space in Tanzania. Following the recent arrest and detention beyond the period allowed without charge of Zitto Kabwe, a prominent opposition leader, the British High Commission in Dar es Salaam raised the case with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 2 November, urging the Tanzanian authorities to follow due process. We will continue to raise our concerns with the Government of Tanzania.