Tanzania Opposition Condemns Arrest of Chadema Party Members 

DAR ES SALAAM - Opposition and rights activists in Tanzania have condemned the arrest of several members of the country's main opposition Chadema party, who were to hold a forum to discuss constitutional reforms. The action happened while Chadema leader Freeman Mbowe remains behind bars facing terrorism-related charges that his party has branded a bid by President Samia Suluhu Hassan's government to silence the opposition.

The condemnations came after police in Musoma, a town in Mara region in the northern part of Tanzania, Saturday arrested nine members of the main opposition Chadema party who were organizing a symposium on a new constitution.  In a post shared on Twitter, the Chadema party said it was following the incident, which it said suppresses democracy.  The statement said, “We strongly condemn this blatant violation of the constitution and rule of law, sowing the seeds of hatred, discrimination, and discord within communities,” It also protested against what the party called the “suppression of democratic rights” by police and other security forces.