Police arrests in Tanzania and Uganda bode ill for democracy

Tanzania’s President John Pombe Magufuli (pictured) got an overwhelming 84 per cent of the vote in last week’s elections, with his closest challenger Tundu Lissu bagging a mere 13 per cent. In an election marred by claims of intimidation and violence, President Magufuli’s Chama Cha Mapinduzi clinched 97 per cent of parliamentary seats, with Lissu’s Chadema party losing a substantial amount of seats.