Tanzania Detains Opposition Leaders In Massive Roundup Over Fears Of Violence
Tanzanian police detained key opposition figures on the eve of a planned rally, a move that rights activists condemned as “troubling” on Monday.
CHADEMA party leader Freeman Mbowe and his deputy Tundu Lissu were arrested, along with several hundred youth supporters.
Mbowe was arrested on Monday in the southwestern city of Mbeya, a day after other leaders were detained in preparation for the International Youth Day event, according to Chadema Director of Communication and Foreign Affairs John Mrema.
He also told AFP that police had arrested approximately 500 youth supporters on their way to the Mbeya gathering and were being escorted home.
Tanzanian 🇹🇿 authorities arrest Freeman Mbowe, another opposition leader, just hours after arresting and detaining former presidential candidate Tundu Lissu, along with other members of the @ChademaTz party and their supporters in Mbeya, a city in Southwest Tanzania.
— Kennedy Wandera (@KennedyWandera_) August 12, 2024
This… pic.twitter.com/TzJBjPWFtw
Tanzanian police banned the rally on Sunday, accusing the party of planning violent demonstrations.
The arrests occurred despite President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s decision to lift a ban on opposition gatherings in January 2023.
The youth wing had stated that approximately 10,000 young people were expected to gather in Mbeya on Monday to commemorate International Youth Day under the slogan “Take charge of your future.”
Tanzania will hold presidential and parliamentary elections late next year, the first since Hassan’s predecessor, John Magufuli, died in 2021.
Magufuli was nicknamed the “Bulldozer” for his authoritarian policies.
“It’s troubling because it’s very similar to the mass opposition arrests we saw when Magufuli was president,” Oryem Nyeko, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, told AFP.
“Tanzania shouldn’t be going back in that direction, especially in the period leading up to elections.”
Police Brutality On Detainees
On Sunday, Mbowe, who has previously been imprisoned, condemned the arrests of Lissu, secretary general John Mnyika, zonal chair Joseph Mbilinyi, and youth council leaders.
Tunalaani vikali Jeshi la Polisi kukamata Viongozi wetu Wakuu wa Chama ikiwemo Viongozi wa Baraza la Vijana wa Chadema, BAVICHA.
— Freeman Mbowe (@freemanmbowetz) August 11, 2024
Aidha, tunalaani mkakati wa Msajili wa Vyama vya Siasa kwa kushirikiana na Polisi kuzuia kongamano la Bavicha katika kuazimisha siku ya vijana…
“We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all our leaders, members, and supporters who were arrested in various parts of the country,” he said on X.
The Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition, which represents over 250 organisations, has called for the unconditional release of all detainees.
“Unconfirmed reports indicate that there was use of force during the arrests and that some of the arrested were beaten,” the coalition said.
“If this is true, we strongly condemn the action as it goes against the constitution, the laws and all the procedures of arrest.”
On Sunday, Chadema officials denounced the police ban and urged Hassan to intervene.
Since taking over in March 2021 following Magufuli’s sudden death, Hassan has moved away from her predecessor’s repressive policies and implemented political reforms, including loosening some restrictions on the media and opposition.
In January 2023, she lifted Magufuli’s 2016 ban on opposition rallies as an overture to political rivals seeking the restoration of democratic traditions.
Lissu, a harsh critic of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party who has been arrested several times, returned to Tanzania shortly after Hassan lifted the ban.
The 56-year-old had spent the previous five years mostly in exile in Belgium following a 2017 assassination attempt in which he was shot 16 times.
Mbowe was arrested in July 2021, along with several other Chadema leaders, just hours before the party’s planned public forum to demand constitutional reforms.
He was released the following March after prosecutors dropped terrorism charges against him.
On Sunday, Awadh Haji, Tanzania’s police chief in charge of operations and training, stated that the force had “clear indications that their aim is not to celebrate International Youth Day but to initiate and engage in violence”.
Lissu vowed on Sunday that the youth event would proceed as planned.
Rais Samia usilete mambo ya ajabu ajabu ya Magufuli. Siku ya Vijana Duniani inasherehekewa duniani kote. Kwa nini mapolisi wako wanazuia vijana wa CHADEMA barabarani & kuwakamata? Matumizi ya mapolisi yalimshinda Magufuli, & wewe yatakushinda. Fungua barabara vijana waende Mbeya! pic.twitter.com/Y3k9nuLhNj
— Tundu Antiphas Lissu (@TunduALissu) August 11, 2024
“President Samia, don’t bring Magufuli’s strange ways,” he said on X.
“This is not a time to stay silent, be afraid, or just talk. It’s a time to stand up and be counted. Let’s raise our voices with all our strength!”
Tanzania Detains Opposition Leaders In Massive Roundup Over Fears Of Violence
Let the opposition be left to air their views detention is not the solution in the current times time is up for Doctorial regime my friend