Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Freeman Mbowe, centre, leader of Tanzania's main opposition party, Chadema, pictured in 2020. Picture: REUTERS/EMMANUEL HERMAN
Dar es Salaam — Police arrested leaders of Tanzania’s main opposition party Chadema and hundreds of its supporters ahead of a meeting in the southwest of the country, the party said on Monday.
Chadema chair Freeman Mbowe and the leader of its youth wing John Pambalu were arrested at a regional airport on Monday, the party said on social media platform X.
A day earlier, the party’s vice-chair Tundu Lissu and secretary-general John Mnyika were arrested, party spokesperson John Mrema said.
Since coming to power in March 2021 after the death of her predecessor, Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has lifted a ban on political rallies and relaxed restrictions on media. However, she has faced criticism from opposition parties and rights groups for arrests last year of those planning protests against a port management deal.
The latest arrests came hours after police banned a conference planned by Chadema’s youth wing Bavicha, saying the event was likely to breach the peace.
Police said the party’s youth leaders planned to influence young people across the country to meet and demonstrate in Mbeya, a city in southwest Tanzania, which a party spokesperson denied.
Mrema said the conference was to celebrate International Youth Day, where top party officials, including Mbowe, were set to address the youth.
“There are more than 400 people who have been arrested by the police,” the spokesperson said.
Police spokesperson David Misime did not respond to requests for comment.
“We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all our leaders, members and loved ones who were arrested in various parts of the country,” Mbowe had said late on Sunday on X.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Tanzania police arrest opposition leaders
Dar es Salaam — Police arrested leaders of Tanzania’s main opposition party Chadema and hundreds of its supporters ahead of a meeting in the southwest of the country, the party said on Monday.
Chadema chair Freeman Mbowe and the leader of its youth wing John Pambalu were arrested at a regional airport on Monday, the party said on social media platform X.
A day earlier, the party’s vice-chair Tundu Lissu and secretary-general John Mnyika were arrested, party spokesperson John Mrema said.
Since coming to power in March 2021 after the death of her predecessor, Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has lifted a ban on political rallies and relaxed restrictions on media. However, she has faced criticism from opposition parties and rights groups for arrests last year of those planning protests against a port management deal.
The latest arrests came hours after police banned a conference planned by Chadema’s youth wing Bavicha, saying the event was likely to breach the peace.
Police said the party’s youth leaders planned to influence young people across the country to meet and demonstrate in Mbeya, a city in southwest Tanzania, which a party spokesperson denied.
Mrema said the conference was to celebrate International Youth Day, where top party officials, including Mbowe, were set to address the youth.
“There are more than 400 people who have been arrested by the police,” the spokesperson said.
Police spokesperson David Misime did not respond to requests for comment.
“We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all our leaders, members and loved ones who were arrested in various parts of the country,” Mbowe had said late on Sunday on X.
Reuters
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.