On Monday, Tanzanian police arrested two leaders from the opposition party Chadema to prevent planned anti-government protests in Dar es Salaam, the country’s main city.
Freeman Mbowe, the chairman of Chadema, was taken into custody while walking in the street, and his deputy, Tundu Lissu, was arrested at his home. They were planning to protest against alleged killings and abductions of critics of the government.
Human rights activists claim that President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s government is targeting opposition members ahead of local elections in December and a national election in 2025.
The police announced that 14 individuals were arrested, including Mbowe and Lissu, for ignoring a ban on the protests. There has been no immediate response from President Hassan’s government, but it has previously stated that it supports democracy and does not tolerate violence.
Chadema reported on the social media platform X that Mbowe was arrested in the Magomeni neighborhood while trying to lead a peaceful protest. Lissu was taken away in a convoy of 11 vehicles, and there was no information about where he was being taken.
Both leaders were also briefly detained last month, along with many of their supporters. Lissu survived a shooting in 2016, where he was hit 16 times in an assassination attempt.
Earlier this month, another senior member of Chadema was abducted from a bus, and his body was later discovered showing signs of abuse, including burns and acid on his face.
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