Tanzania’s leading opposition figures were released on Monday night after being detained by police for attempting to lead a mass protest in Dar es Salaam. The protest was organised by the Chadema party to oppose the alleged kidnapping and murder of party members by security forces.
Despite a ban on the protest, Chadema chairman Freeman Mbowe, his deputy Tundu Lissu, and dozens of others were arrested by police, who deployed water cannons and riot units across the city to prevent gatherings. The protest comes amid accusations that the government of President Samia Suluhu Hassan is reviving the repressive tactics of her predecessor, John Magufuli.
Mbowe and Lissu were released on bail late on Monday, but Mbowe opted to remain at the police station until all other arrested members and supporters were also granted bail.
The party has claimed that several members have recently disappeared, and Ali Mohamed Kibao, a member of Chadema’s national secretariat, was found dead earlier this month. Chadema continues to assert its right to peaceful protest despite government crackdowns.
In August, a similar protest attempt resulted in a massive crackdown, with hundreds of members, including Mbowe and Lissu, being detained. International rights groups and Western governments have expressed concerns about this renewed repression ahead of local elections in November and general elections in 2025.