Since the election of President John Pombe Magufuli in 2015, Tanzania has witnessed increasing cases of human rights violation, Alliance for Real Change (ARC) party leader Mohamed Abduba Dida has observed.

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Dida, who vied for president in 2013 and 2017 elections, said his party was concerned over claims police in Tanzania were being used in repressing political dissent, stifling free press and activism.

In a tweet on Sunday, he reprimanded Magufuli and demanded he obeys the law, and stop the harassment and arrest of opposition members and other critics of his administration.

"ARC is deeply concerned by the conduct of the Government of Tanzania, especially reports on the use of police to intimidate, arrest and silence the opposition and activists. President Magufuli must obey the law and the people of Tanzania," Dida said.

Human right groups in Tanzania have been decrying rising levels of abuses against independent journalists, activists and political opponents of Magufuli's government.

This is in the wake of arrest and detention of Tanzanian investigative journalist Erick Kabendera who has been charged with money laundering, tax evasion and leading organised crime.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) East Africa Director Jehanne Henry has linked the upcoming general election to the declining respect for free expression, association and assembly in Tanzania.

"With elections around the corner, people don't feel that they can comment honestly. Human rights activists are restrained from pushing for accountability for disappearances and other human rights abuses," Henry told Al Jazeera.