The following letter was sent this week to Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth:
Our letter of 23 February 2026 concerning the plight of democracy and opposition leaders in Tanzania and Uganda refers. The letter is included below.
We have received no reply to this letter.
Since we wrote, there has been no positive change in the situation in Tanzania and Uganda. Tundu Lissu and Dr Kizza Besigye remain incarcerated on political charges. Presidential candidate Bobi Wine has fled Uganda and is now in exile in the United States.
Elsewhere, one of the signatories to our letter of 23 February, Zimbabwean human rights lawyer, former minister of finance and opposition leader, Tendai Biti, was arrested in Mutare this past weekend along with other opponents of constitutional amendments to extend the rule of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Biti was in Mutare as a leader of the Constitutional Defenders Forum (CDF), which has garnered nationwide support in its campaign to halt proposed constitutional amendments which will weaken democracy. In February 2026, Zimbabwe gazetted Constitution Amendment Bill No. 3, a far-reaching proposal framed as a technical reform of electoral cycles and governance structures. The Bill’s effect would be to reorder the constitutional system, to increase presidential authority while weakening mechanisms for popular participation and democratic accountability.
The amendments have been opposed by a wide range of civil society bodies, including the Catholic Bishops’ Conference and a group of war veterans.
These developments represent a dangerous new authoritarian playbook which, if allowed to proceed, will condemn yet another generation of young Africans to a life of hardship and repression despite the abundant resources possessed by these countries.
If the Commonwealth wants to lead and uphold the values to which it professes, it should speak out on behalf of its citizens, and not default to protect governments. Your silence simply aids and abets this new wave of authoritarianism, encourages its proponents and undermines your leadership.
Signed on behalf of the Platform for African Democrats
Seretse Khama Ian Khama
Former President of the Republic of Botswana
The following is the letter sent to Botchwey on 23 February:
Dear Secretary General
VIOLATION OF COMMONWEALTH PRINCIPLES BY MEMBER STATES
We write to express our outrage at the flagrant violation of democracy and human rights in two Commonwealth member states: Uganda and Tanzania. In doing so we take note of your words on acceding to the leadership of the Commonwealth, that:
“The world we woke up to today is unlike any we have seen in our lifetimes. The consequences of lower economic growth, increased defence expenditures, and a frayed multilateralism will affect our pockets directly, increase unemployment and poverty, reduce social protection and weaken our resilience to shocks.
“The value of our Commonwealth stands in bold relief, in a time like this. For over 75 years, the Commonwealth has been a unique and powerful force for good. Now we must seize the moment to realise the transformation our societies seek.”
We commend wholeheartedly the rhetorical investment in a world run by consensus over coercion. We have however to guard against the betrayal of otherwise hollow declarations in support of human rights and government probity in reinforcing restraints on unaccountable power which threatens violence and impunity.
The recent elections in Tanzania on 29 October 2025 and Uganda on 15 January 2026 are cases in point. Both have resulted in multiple recorded instances of:
- Violent state repression resulting in deaths, abductions, maiming, torture, the suppression of free expression, the suppression of opposition parties and of voters.
- Active state actions to rig elections through ballot stuffing and the prevention of proper independent observation by party agents and independent bodies.
- The use of the law to suppress opposition leaders. In the case of Uganda, among others, the ongoing trial of opposition leader, Dr Kizza Besigye, before a military tribunal and in the case of Tanzania, among others, the ongoing trial of Tundu Lissu for treason.
- Utterances by public officials, including officials in the security forces, of threats to kill, castrate and violently suppress opposition leaders and parties.
We note that the Commonwealth Charter explicitly affirms that, “the special strength of the Commonwealth lies in the combination of our diversity and our shared inheritance in language, culture and the rule of law; and bound together by shared history and tradition; by respect for all states and peoples; by shared values and principles and by concern for the vulnerable.”
More specifically, the Commonwealth Charter states:
- “We recognise the inalienable right of individuals to participate in democratic processes, in particular through free and fair elections in shaping the society in which they live. Governments, political parties and civil society are responsible for upholding and promoting democratic culture and practices and are accountable to the public in this regard. Parliaments and representative local governments and other forms of local governance are essential elements in the exercise of democratic governance.”
- “We support the role of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group to address promptly and effectively all instances of serious or persistent violations of Commonwealth values without any fear or favour.”
- “We are committed to equality and respect for the protection and promotion of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development, for all without discrimination on any grounds as the foundations of peaceful, just and stable societies.”
- “We note that these rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and cannot be implemented selectively. We are implacably opposed to all forms of discrimination, whether rooted in gender, race, colour, creed, political belief or other grounds.”
- “We are committed to peaceful, open dialogue and the free flow of information, including through a free and responsible media, and to enhancing democratic traditions and strengthening democratic processes.”
- “We believe in the rule of law as an essential protection for the people of the Commonwealth and as an assurance of limited and accountable government. In particular, we support an independent, impartial, honest and competent judiciary and recognise that an independent, effective and competent legal system is integral to upholding the rule of law, engendering public confidence and dispensing justice.”
There can be no gainsaying that the governments and leaders of Uganda and Tanzania have acted in violation of these articles of membership in multiple instances and that the consequences have been severe for the safety of the Ugandan and Tanzanian people.
We therefore call on the Commonwealth to:
- Place Uganda and Tanzania on notice of suspension from the Commonwealth until such time as they commit to and enact the values outlined in the Commonwealth Charter.
- Issue a public statement strongly condemning the governments of Uganda and Tanzania for their flagrant violation of the Commonwealth Charter.
- Convene a special meeting of the Commonwealth to discuss further action, which should include consideration of:
- Financial, travel and other sanctions against the government leaders who were responsible for gross human rights violations;
- The establishment of a Commonwealth task team with investigatory powers to document the abuses of democracy and human rights in these countries;
- The establishment of an Eminent Persons Group consisting of senior leaders to visit these countries in order to meet with the governments and opposition leaders – including those on trial or in prison – with a view to outlining a road map for a return to democracy which entails fresh, free and fair elections with unfettered outside observation.
We trust that the Commonwealth will act with speed to address what has become a serious crisis of governance in two of its member states in order to return these countries to the path of peace, development, democracy and human rights as outlined by the Commonwealth Charter.
A failure to act quickly and decisively on this matter will harm the image of the Commonwealth as a force for positive development, democracy and human rights, weakening its stature and undermining its claim to be a force for progress.
Words are small but deeds could be giants. We look forward to your prompt response.
Yours sincerely
Signed by Members of the Platform for African Democrats:
Seretse Khama Ian Khama, Former President of Botswana
Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine), Presidential Candidate of Uganda, 2021 and 2026
John Wegesa Heche, Vice-Chairman: Chadema, Tanzania
Erias Lukwago, Mayor of Kampala; Leader: People’s Front for Freedom, Uganda
Adalberto Costa Junior, President: UNITA, Angola
Aderemi Ajibewa, Gracious Youth Empowerment Centre, Nigeria
Alfonso Prat-Gay, Former Minister of Finance, Argentina
Atupele Muluzi, Leader: United Democratic Front; Presidential Candidate 2019 and 2025, Malawi
Basil Gavalas, Head of International Relations, DIKTIO Network for Reform in Greece and Europe, Greece
Branko Brkic, Leader: Project Kontinuum, South Africa
Cirino Hiteng Ofuho, Real-SPLM, South Sudan
David Coltart, Mayor of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Edwin Sifuna, Senator, Kenya
Eerik Kross, Member of Parliament; Centre for Cognitive Warfare, Estonia
Greg Mills, Platform for African Democrats, South Africa
Gregory Nemyria, Deputy Chair: Rada Foreign Affairs Committee, Ukraine
Jeffrey Smith, Vanguard Africa, United States
Jonas Mulato, Secretary for International Relations and Diaspora: UNITA, Angola
Karin von Hippel, Former Director-General, Royal United Services Institute, UK
Kate Almquist Knopf, Former USAID Assistant Administrator for Africa, US
Leopoldo López, World Liberty Congress, Venezuela
Luis Ravina, Professor: Instituto Cultura y Sociedad, University of Navarra, Spain
Lutero Simango, Leader: Mozambique Democratic Movement, Mozambique
Manuel de Araújo, Mayor of Quelimane, Mozambique
Martha Karua, Former Minister of Justice; Leader: People’s Liberation Party, Kenya
Merera Gudina, Oromo People’s Congress, Ethiopia
Michael Antoine, United Democratic Front, Malawi
Milissão Nuvunga, Centre for the Study of Peace, Conflict and Well-Being, Mozambique
Moekesti Majoro, Former Prime Minister, Lesotho
Nic Cheeseman, University of Birmingham, UK
Paula Cristina Roque, Executive Director: Intelwatch, South Africa
Peter Gregory Obi, Former Governor and Presidential Candidate 2023, Nigeria
Precious Omuku, Bishop: Church of England, Nigeria
Ray Hartley, Platform for African Democrats, South Africa
Ryan Smith, International Relations Spokesperson: Democratic Alliance, South Africa
Souleymane Coulibaly, Democratic Party, Cote d’Ivoire
Tanele Maseko, Thulani Maseko Foundation, eSwatini
Tendai Biti, Former Minister of Finance; Convenor: Constitutional Defence Forum, Zimbabwe
Tut Riek Jikany, World Liberty Congress; Democracy Network Initiative, South Sudan