Tanzanian police have arrested three opposition leaders for the second time in recent weeks, raising concerns about the government’s crackdown on dissent ahead of crucial elections. On Monday, Freeman Mbowe, chairman of the main opposition party CHADEMA, was detained on the street in Dar es Salaam, while his deputy, Tundu Lissu, was taken from his home. The arrests came as the opposition planned to hold demonstrations against alleged killings and abductions of government critics.
CHADEMA later confirmed that police also arrested another senior official and an unspecified number of party members, staff, and guards at two of their offices in Dar es Salaam. Adding to the growing tension, three journalists covering the planned protests were also taken into custody by police, according to their employers, Mwananchi Communications Ltd and East Africa TV. While one journalist was later released, the reasons for their arrests remain unclear.
Police have justified the arrests, claiming that the 14 individuals, including Mbowe and Lissu, were detained for defying a ban on the protests. However, rights campaigners have accused President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s government of targeting opponents ahead of local elections in December and a national vote in 2025.
Despite previous statements from the government defending its commitment to democracy and denouncing brutality, there has been no immediate comment on these latest arrests.
CHADEMA, on social media platform X, stated that Mbowe was arrested in the Magomeni area while preparing to lead a peaceful protest. They also reported that Lissu was taken away by a convoy of 11 vehicles, with no information regarding his current location.
It’s worth noting that Mbowe and Lissu were also briefly detained, along with hundreds of supporters, last month. Lissu, a vocal critic of the government, previously survived an assassination attempt in 2016, where he was shot 16 times. Earlier this month, another senior CHADEMA member was abducted from a bus, and his body was later found with signs of beatings and acid poured on his face.
These recurring arrests and incidents highlight the increasing pressure on opposition figures and raise concerns about the government’s commitment to free speech and democratic principles in Tanzania.
