Freeman Mbowe, leader of Tanzania’s main opposition party Chadema, has been granted bail after being detained just days before the country’s local elections. His release was confirmed by the party early Saturday.
Chadema had reported on Friday that Mbowe and several other party members were “forcibly” taken into custody by police after a rally in southern Tanzania was dispersed using tear gas.
The incident occurred as the party prepared for the local polls scheduled for 27 November 27.
In a statement shared on social media platform X, Chadema announced:
“Tonight, the Chadema national chairman Freeman Mbowe… along with other leaders who were being held at Vwawa Police Station, have been released on bail.”
Speaking to reporters after his release around midnight, Mbowe refuted the allegations against him.
“We were accused of violating the campaign schedule, but that’s baseless because we had already agreed with our fellow opposition,” he said. Mbowe suggested the arrests were a deliberate attempt to disrupt Chadema’s campaign activities.
While Mbowe and other leaders are now free, he revealed that some party members remain in custody. He and others have been instructed to report back to authorities on November 29.
The opposition leader added that he intends to consult legal advisers regarding the incident.
The upcoming local elections are seen as an important indicator of Tanzania’s political climate ahead of the presidential race set for October next year.
Mbowe’s arrest and the events surrounding it have raised concerns about political freedoms and fairness as the nation prepares to vote.
