Police Arrest Opposition Leader Tanzania And Hundreds Of Supporters

JAKARTA - Police arrested senior leaders of Tanzania's main opposition party, CHADEMA, and hundreds of supporters ahead of the meeting.

Party spokesman John Mrema said Tundu Lissu, vice chairman of CHADEMA, and party Secretary General John Munyika were among those arrested on Sunday night.

Lissu, a former presidential candidate, has ambitions to participate in next year's presidential election.

Since coming to power in March 2021 following the death of its predecessor, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan lifted a ban on political protests and relaxed restrictions on the media.

However, he faced criticism from opposition parties and human rights groups over his arrest last year of those planning protests against the port management deal.

Reported by Reuters on Monday, August 12, the last arrest came hours after police banned a meeting planned by CHADEMA youth wing, BAVICHA. The reason is that the event is likely to disrupt order.

Police said the party's youth leaders plan to influence the younger generation across the country to meet and demonstrate in Mbeya.

Mrema said the conference was to celebrate International Youth Day, where party high-ranking officials, including the ChairpersonofTEN Mbowe, were scheduled to give speeches to young people.

There are more than 400 people who have been arrested by the police, the spokesman added.

Meanwhile, CHADEMA chairman Mbowe said his party condemned the arrest and was monitoring the situation.

"We demand immediate and unconditional release of all of our leaders, members and loved ones arrested in various regions of the country," he said on social media platform X.