NAIROBI, Kenya (KAAB TV) – In a concerning development, the Tanzanian government has ramped up its campaign of mass arrests and arbitrary detentions targeting political opposition figures, drawing sharp criticism from international human rights organizations.
Amnesty International has called on Tanzanian authorities to immediately halt these actions, which have intensified in the run-up to the local government elections scheduled for December 2024 and the general election in 2025.
The recent wave of arrests represents a significant escalation in the ongoing crackdown on government critics, particularly those associated with Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema).
On August 11, 2024, Tanzanian police arrested key figures from Chadema, including former presidential candidate Tundu Lissu, secretary-general John Mnyika, and more than a hundred youth supporters.
The arrests occurred during a meeting at Chadema’s Nyasa zonal office in Mbeya, southwest Tanzania, where party members were reportedly planning a youth rally to mark International Youth Day on August 12.
The authorities justified the arrests by citing a ban on holding the youth conference. Five journalists covering the event were also detained, further raising concerns about press freedom in the country.
The same day, in the Iringa region of the Nyasa zone, police arrested 107 Chadema party members. The Tanganyika Law Society (TLS), the bar association of mainland Tanzania, reported these arrests, emphasizing the arbitrary nature of the detentions. According to eyewitness accounts, those detained included several high-ranking Chadema leaders, who were subsequently taken to undisclosed locations by police. Other party members and journalists were distributed across various police stations in Mbeya, creating confusion and fear among the opposition and their supporters.
Escalation of Repressive Tactics
The arrests on August 11 were not isolated incidents. The following day, police arrested Chadema party chairman Freeman Mbowe and the leader of the party’s youth wing, Baraza la Vijana Cha Chadema (Bavicha), John Pambalu, at Songwe airport. The two had arrived from Dar es Salaam to seek information about the earlier arrests, only to find themselves detained as well.
Chadema lawyers have expressed frustration and alarm over the lack of transparency regarding the whereabouts and legal status of those arrested. The Mbeya Regional Police Commander has reportedly denied lawyers access to their clients, leaving the legal team in the dark about the charges, if any, that the detainees face. The lawyers did confirm, however, that Joseph Mbilinyi, a regional leader within Chadema, was being held at Iringa Central Police Station.
This pattern of repression is not new in Tanzania. Under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who assumed office after the death of President John Pombe Magufuli in March 2021, the government has continued to suppress political opposition, a trend that was prevalent during Magufuli’s presidency. Despite early hopes that President Hassan might usher in a more open and democratic era, the ongoing arrests and detentions suggest otherwise.
A History of Crackdown on Opposition
The current crackdown is part of a broader strategy that has been in place for several years. On July 21, 2021, police arrested Freeman Mbowe along with 11 other Chadema officials just hours before they were to discuss the need for a new constitution. Although most of those arrested were released shortly afterward, Mbowe spent over seven months in detention on terrorism charges before the Director of Public Prosecution dropped the case against him and others.
More recently, on July 14, 2023, lawyer and activist Boniface Mwabukusi and political activist Mdude Nyagali were arrested following a press conference where they criticized a port deal between Tanzania and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They were re-arrested on August 12, 2023, while traveling to Dar es Salaam and charged with treason, only to be released under strict conditions on August 18, 2023. Similarly, former parliamentarian and diplomat Willibrod Slaa was arrested at his home in Dar es Salaam on August 13, 2023, and faced treason charges before being released.
Tundu Lissu, who has been a vocal critic of the government, has also been a frequent target of police action. On September 10, 2023, he was arrested for holding what authorities described as an “unlawful assembly” after attending a political rally in northern Tanzania’s Loliondo division.
The recent wave of arrests has drawn strong condemnation from Amnesty International, which has called on the Tanzanian government to respect the rights of its citizens, particularly the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.
Sarah Jackson, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, emphasized that the authorities must either release those detained or charge them with a recognizable criminal offense in line with international standards. Jackson also called for the protection of detainees’ rights to a fair trial, including timely information about the reasons for their arrest and access to legal counsel.
As Tanzania approaches critical elections in December 2024 and 2025, the international community is closely watching the government’s actions. Amnesty International has urged the Tanzanian authorities to reverse the escalating crackdown on civic space and allow for a free and fair electoral process. The current trajectory, however, suggests that the government is more focused on silencing dissent than fostering a democratic environment.
President Suluhu’s administration faces a pivotal moment. The decisions made in the coming months will not only shape the political landscape of Tanzania but will also determine the country’s standing in the global community as a nation that either respects or disregards fundamental human rights.