They rose to power promising to reform, but the animal instinct in them has refused to die.

Tanzanian President John Magufuli’s government is going for the jugular, banning use of social media as a tool for organising, planning and supporting protests.

Under that country’s new legislation, organising, planning or even supporting any form of demonstration online is now illegal.

The Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations 2020, which were published on July 17 and approved by Tanzanian Information minister Harrison Mwakyembe, were recently made public.

The legislation prohibits publishing of content perceived as promoting and calling for demonstrations, marches or the like that would lead to public disorder.

Activists in Tanzania say new rules that restrict online content are infringing on people’s freedom of expression.

Back here in Zimbabwe, President Emmerson Mnangagwa is clamping down on our rights and freedoms.

His Zanu PF party is busy crafting laws that will make it even impossible for us to breathe.

They have chosen to label every negative complaint “decampaigning Zimbabwe”, and will criminalise posting on Twitter that certain human rights abuses are taking place in the country.

These dictators are using the cover of COVID-19 lockdown regulations and curfews to brutalise citizens and muffle dissent.

Unfortunately, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s envoys to Zimbabwe, Sydney Mufamadi and Baleka Mbete are conflicted.