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Tanzanian police have arrested distinguished politician Tundu Lissu and two different opposition Chadema officers, the get together has stated.
It says the three have been detained on Sunday within the south-western city of Mbeya, on the eve of their deliberate rally to mark the World Youth Day.
The reported arrests come a 12 months after President Samia Hassan lifted a ban on opposition gatherings and promised to revive aggressive politics.
On Sunday the police banned the Chadema rally saying it was supposed to trigger violence.
They cited the get together’s rallying name for individuals to come back collectively just like the “youth in Kenya” – apparently referring to the weeks of lethal anti-government demonstrations within the neighbouring East African nation.
On Monday morning, a Chadema official advised the Daily News that they didn’t know the place the detained leaders have been being held.
The police haven’t formally spoken concerning the arrests. The Daily News has contacted them for remark.
Chadema spokesman John Mrema stated teams of youths travelling in employed buses have been arrested and compelled again to their respective areas beneath armed escort.
About 10,000 younger individuals have been set to fulfill in Mbeya to have fun youth day, with the slogan, “Take charge of your future”, in accordance with the get together’s youth wing.
But police stated in a assertion that no such conferences could be allowed within the metropolis or elsewhere within the nation.
Chadema officers shared footage of a giant group of about 100 get together members who they stated had been detained in Iringa, a city near Mbeya. They have been later launched and escorted again to the place they’d come from.
Chadema has condemned the arrests, with get together chairman Freeman Mbowe demanding in a put up on X “the immediate, unconditional release of our leaders, members, and supporters arrested across the country”.
Mr Lissu, who survived an assassination attempt in 2017 after being shot 16 times, returned to Tanzania last year after two years in exile in Belgium.
He returned after President Samia lifted a ban on political rallies imposed by former President John Magufuli in 2016.
The ban had prohibited political parties from holding rallies and even engaging in internal political activities.
Ms Samia, who came to power in 2021 following Mr Magufuli’s sudden death, was praised for moving away from many of her predecessor’s policies.
But in the wake of the arrests, some opposition politicians have criticised her, saying she is not ready for political reconciliation.
Tanzania is due to hold presidential and parliamentary polls late next year.
Additional reporting by Basillioh Rukanga
