Tanzania arrests opposition leaders, blocks protest

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania — 

Police arrested Tanzania's apical absorption figures connected Monday, their enactment said, arsenic the authorities moved to artifact a wide protestation successful the commercialized superior Dar es Salaam.

Despite an authoritative ban, the absorption Chadema enactment had vowed to spell up with the rally implicit the alleged kidnapping and sidesplitting of its members by information forces.

Chadema said its president Freeman Mbowe and his lawman Tundu Lissu were some arrested connected Monday, portion riot constabulary were stationed successful cardinal areas crossed the metropolis to forestall gatherings.

"Demonstration is our law close and we are amazed by the magnitude of unit being utilized by the constabulary to endanger radical and suppress our freedom," Mbowe told supporters earlier being led distant by police, according to a video shared by the enactment online.

Chadema accuses President Samia Suluhu Hassan's authorities of returning the state to the repressive tactics of her predecessor, John Magufuli.

Hassan took implicit pursuing Magufuli's abrupt decease successful March 2021 and appeared to awesome a much wide approach, reversing restrictions connected absorption rallies and the media.

But Chadema accuses the information forces of being down the caller disappearance of respective members and the sidesplitting of Ali Mohamed Kibao, of its nationalist secretariat, who was recovered dormant earlier this month.

Police besides blocked a younker time rally by the enactment successful August, arresting dozens of its leaders including Mbowe and Lissu.

Rights groups and Western governments, including the United States, person raised concerns astir renewed repression up of section elections successful November and a wide predetermination successful precocious 2025.

Lissu, an absorption stalwart, has been arrested countless times and suffered aggregate gunshot wounds successful an assassination effort successful 2017.

He returned to Tanzania past twelvemonth aft Hassan lifted the prohibition connected absorption rallies.

Police had alleged that the Chadema protests would beryllium violent.

But successful a code broadcast connected X connected Sunday, Mbowe said: "I punctual Tanzanians that we are going to clasp peaceful protests. We are neither carrying immoderate weapons nor readying to interruption the bid arsenic immoderate radical allege.

"In lawsuit immoderate of america volition beryllium arrested, wounded oregon adjacent killed, commune for america and ne'er crook back. We are doing this to marque our state a peaceful spot to live," helium said.