Tanzania’s top opposition party, Chadema, is preparing to sue a senior police officer and the Deputy Registrar of Political Parties following the abrupt cancellation of a youth gathering in Mbeya on August 12, 2024.
The event, organised by Chadema’s youth wing, Bavicha, was intended to celebrate International Youth Day. However, the Tanzanian Police, acting on concerns raised by the Deputy Registrar, Sisty Nyahoza, banned the event.
Nyahoza accused Bavicha officials of violating the Political Parties Act and inciting violence, citing concerns about political activities in religious settings and the involvement of non-citizens.
In response to the ban, police arrested several Chadema leaders, including national chairman Freeman Mbowe, deputy chairman Tundu Lissu, and secretary general John Mnyika. The arrested leaders and youth members were escorted back to their homes upon release from detention.
According to Chadema, the arrests involved physical assaults, theft of personal belongings, unlawful detentions, and denial of legal representation.
Speaking at a press conference in Dar es Salaam, Freeman Mbowe announced that Chadema would take legal action against Nyahoza and the police officer, Mr Awadh Haji, in their personal capacities.
Mbowe claimed the gathering was legal, as no lawful order had been issued by the Officer Commanding District (OCD) to cancel the event. He argued that the actions taken against the party were a violation of the law and human rights. He further stated that the accusations against Chadema’s leaders were unfounded, and despite the police’s orders being unlawful, they complied during their arrests.
Chadema’s legal team, led by Tundu Lissu, is preparing lawsuits to challenge the legality of the actions taken by the Deputy Registrar and the police.
Lissu emphasised that these individuals would need to explain their conduct in court without government legal representation, as the lawsuits would target them personally.
“For example, the Deputy Registrar of Political Parties and the Police Commissioner should tell us the legality of initiating this incident, which violated the country’s laws.
“They should explain in their capacity as individuals so they won’t even have the chance to be defended by government lawyers for what they did,” he said.
Chadema asserts that the incident represents a violation of human rights, suppression of democracy, and excessive use of police force.
Party leaders stated that they were detained without charges, beaten despite complying with police orders, and that some members, including Nyasa Zone chairman Joseph Mbilinyi, were left in poor health as a result.
“We were detained without charges and still beaten, despite obeying police orders, and even now, some people are still in bad condition, including the party’s regional chairman, Joseph Mbilinyi,” Mr John Mnyika said.
The party has pledged to pursue justice through the courts, although a specific date for filing the lawsuits has not yet been confirmed.