In Tanzania, police detained opposition leaders and over 500 youth supporters as they halted a planned rally, amid claims of violence being planned. Former presidential candidate Tundu Lissu was among those arrested in the city of Mbeya. The arrests came as the opposition Chadema party was set to hold a rally to mark International Youth Day, with about 500 youth supporters also being detained on their way to the event. Chadema’s director of communications, John Mrema, confirmed the arrests, with party leader Freeman Mbowe condemning the actions and calling for the immediate release of those detained.
The crackdown on opposition leaders and supporters comes ahead of Tanzania’s upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in 2025, raising concerns about the state of democracy in the country. Critics argue that recent arrests are evidence of a stall in democratic progress, with the opposition staging protests to demand changes to controversial bills, address rising living costs, and ensure transparent electoral oversight. The police had banned the Chadema youth gathering, accusing the party of planning violent demonstrations, a move that the opposition had denounced and called on President Samia Suluhu Hassan to intervene.
Since taking office in 2021 following the death of President John Magufuli, Hassan has made efforts to distance herself from her predecessor’s hardline policies and implement political reforms. In January 2023, she lifted a ban on opposition rallies that had been imposed by Magufuli in 2016, signaling a shift towards fostering democratic traditions. This move paved the way for opposition figures like Lissu to return to Tanzania after years in exile, with Mbowe also being released from prison in 2022 following his arrest alongside other Chadema leaders ahead of a public forum on constitutional reform.
The crackdown on opposition figures in Tanzania is part of a broader trend of political repression in sub-Saharan Africa, with neighboring countries like Kenya and Uganda also experiencing waves of protests and government crackdowns. The arrests of opposition leaders and supporters ahead of the planned rally in Mbeya highlight the challenges faced by opposition parties in asserting their rights to freedom of assembly and expression in an increasingly authoritarian environment. As Tanzania prepares for crucial elections in 2025, the need for transparent and fair electoral processes remains a pressing concern, with the government facing scrutiny over its handling of political dissent and civil liberties.
