Tanzanian authorities detain a key opposition figure, raising concerns over political freedoms and human rights in the country.
Freeman Mbowe, the chairman of the Chadema party, along with other opposition leaders, have been arrested in southwestern Tanzania.
According to reports released on Friday (No. 22), the politicians have been questioned for allegedly violating local election campaign regulations.
However, the communications director of the opposition party has rejected the police’s account, condemning it as an attempt to undermine Chadema’s campaign.
The Citizen Tanzania media outlet referenced a statement by JohnMrama.
This week, the party expressed its protest over what it deemed as “unfair” disqualification of many of its candidates from participating in the November 27 elections.
In September, Mbowe and his deputy Tundu Lissu were among several opposition figures who were briefly detained when riot police stopped a mass rally in Dar es Salaam.
The arrest highlights a tense political climate leading up to the presidential election scheduled for late 2025.
