Tanzania arrests opposition leaders in mass round-up

Tanzanian police detain opposition leaders and youth supporters ahead of planned rally, sparking condemnation from rights activists.

Tanzanian police have detained leading opposition figures including Chadema party leader Freeman Mbowe and his deputy Tundu Lissu and rounded up several hundred youth supporters on the eve of a planned rally, a move condemned by rights activists on Monday (August 12, 2024) as "troubling".

Mr. Mbowe was arrested on Monday (August 12, 2024) in the southwestern city of Mbeya, the day after other leaders were detained ahead of the event that was to mark International Youth Day, Chadema director of communication and foreign affairs John Mrema posted on X, formerly Twitter.

He also told AFP that around 500 youth supporters had been arrested by police as they were making their way to the Mbeya gathering and were being escorted back home.

Tanzanian police on Sunday (August 11, 2024) declared a ban on the rally, accusing the party of planning violent demonstrations.

The arrests came despite President Samia Suluhu Hassan in January 2023 overturning a ban on opposition gatherings.

The youth wing had said about 10,000 youngsters were expected to meet in Mbeya to mark International Youth Day on Monday under the slogan "Take charge of your future".

Tanzania is due to hold presidential and parliamentary elections late next year, the first since the 2021 death of Hassan's predecessor John Magufuli, who was nicknamed the "Bulldozer" for his authoritarian policies.