On Monday, police in Tanzania detained prominent opposition figures as the government sought to prevent a large-scale demonstration in the nation’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam.
The Chadema party had announced plans for the protest in defiance of an official ban, citing allegations that security personnel had kidnapped and killed several of its members. According to Chadema, riot police were deployed strategically throughout the city to disperse potential crowds.
Both the party’s chairman, Freeman Mbowe, and his deputy, Tundu Lissu, were taken into custody.
In a video posted online by the party, Mbowe addressed supporters shortly before his arrest.
“Demonstration is our constitutional right, and we are shocked by the level of force used by the police to intimidate people and suppress our freedoms,” Mbowe stated.
Chadema accuses the administration of President Samia Suluhu Hassan of reinstating the repressive policies of her predecessor, John Magufuli.
After Magufuli’s unexpected death in March 2021, Hassan initially appeared to adopt a more liberal approach by lifting restrictions on opposition gatherings and media.
However, Chadema claims that security forces are responsible for the recent disappearances of multiple party members and the death of Ali Mohamed Kibao, a member of its national secretariat, who was found dead earlier this month.
In August, police halted the party’s youth day protest, detaining several officials, including Mbowe and Lissu.
Human rights groups and Western governments, particularly the United States, have expressed concerns about renewed persecution ahead of the November municipal elections and the late 2025 national elections.
Opposition leader Lissu has faced numerous arrests and survived a severe assassination attempt in 2017.
After Hassan lifted the ban on opposition demonstrations last year, he returned to Tanzania. Police had issued warnings about potential violent protests during Chadema’s demonstrations.
Despite these tensions, Mbowe stated in a speech broadcast on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday: “I remind Tanzanians that we are going to hold peaceful protests.
Contrary to what some people claim, we are not aiming to disturb the peace or carry any firearms. Pray for us and do not lose hope if any of us is hurt, arrested, or even killed.
We are taking these actions to create a peaceful nation.”