TANZANIAN police have detained senior leaders of the main opposition party CHADEMA, along with hundreds of their supporters, just before a scheduled rally in the southwest of the country, a party spokesperson reported on Monday.
The arrests, which took place on Sunday evening, include prominent figures such as Tundu Lissu, CHADEMA’s vice chairman, and John Mnyika, the party’s Secretary General. Lissu, a former presidential candidate, has signalled his intention to run in next year’s presidential election, adding weight to the significance of his detention.
The crackdown comes shortly after police banned a conference organised by CHADEMA’s youth wing, BAVICHA, citing concerns that the gathering could lead to public unrest. Authorities claimed that the youth leaders were planning to mobilise demonstrations in Mbeya, a city in the southwest of Tanzania. However, the party’s spokesperson, John Mrema, refuted these allegations, stating that the event was intended to celebrate International Youth Day, with key party officials, including Chairman Freeman Mbowe, scheduled to address the participants.
‘There are more than 400 people who have been arrested by the police,’ Mrema stated, highlighting the scale of the crackdown.
Since assuming office in March 2021 following the death of her predecessor, President Samia Suluhu Hassan has lifted bans on political rallies and relaxed media restrictions, marking a shift from the more repressive policies of the past. However, her government continues to face criticism from opposition groups and human rights organisations, especially following a series of arrests last year linked to protests against a controversial port management deal.
CHADEMA Chairman Freeman Mbowe, responding to the arrests, condemned the actions of the police and affirmed that the party is monitoring the situation closely. ‘We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all our leaders, members, and supporters who were detained across the country,’ Mbowe declared on social media platform X.
As of now, police spokesperson David Misime has not responded to requests for comment from. The arrests have raised fresh concerns over the state of political freedoms in Tanzania and the ongoing tensions between the government and opposition parties.
