Tanzania’s main opposition party, CHADEMA, saw its top leaders and hundreds of supporters released on Tuesday following mass arrests linked to a prohibited youth meeting in Mbeya, located in the country’s southwest. The arrests, which occurred over Sunday and Monday, have sparked widespread criticism from human rights organizations, who view the detentions as an attempt to suppress opposition ahead of upcoming local and national elections.
“These arrests are part of a broader strategy to intimidate and silence political dissent in Tanzania,” said Sarah Jackson, Amnesty International’s deputy regional director for East and Southern Africa. “The authorities must cease these arbitrary detentions and respect the rights of all citizens to participate in political activities.”
The meeting, organized by CHADEMA’s youth wing, had been banned by police due to concerns that it could “breach the peace.” Police Commissioner Awadh Haji defended the decision, stating, “We won’t allow a few criminals to destroy peace by mimicking unrest seen in neighboring countries.” His remarks are believed to reference recent youth-led protests in Kenya that have inspired similar movements across the region.
The crackdown led to the arrest of more than 500 CHADEMA supporters, including party Chairman Freeman Mbowe and Vice Chairman Tundu Lissu. While CHADEMA spokesperson John Mrema confirmed the release of the party’s top leadership, he expressed concern that some youth-wing supporters in Mbeya remain in custody.
This wave of arrests comes amid President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s efforts to relax restrictions on the media and political opposition since she took office in 2021. Despite these reforms, rights groups continue to raise alarms over what they describe as ongoing arbitrary detentions and a shrinking civic space in Tanzania.
The mass arrests in Tanzania echo the recent unrest in Kenya, where citizens took to the streets to protest against a proposed tax hike. Although Kenyan President William Ruto responded by withdrawing the legislation and reshuffling his cabinet, sporadic protests continue, illustrating the volatile political climate in the region.
As Tanzania approaches its local elections later this year and the national election in 2025, the release of opposition leaders highlights the growing tension between the government and political opposition. The situation underscores the challenges faced by those advocating for political freedoms and human rights in the country.
