Police Moves to Prevent Planned Protests
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Loading... - Susan Temba
- 23 Sep 2024
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On Monday, police in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, intensified efforts to prevent opposition-led protests by blocking access to the homes of CHADEMA party leaders Freeman Mbowe and Tundu Lissu. The authorities had already banned the planned demonstrations, which were organized in response to the alleged abductions and killings of opposition members.
CHADEMA, Tanzania's main opposition party, stated that police had set up barricades around Mbowe's and Lissu's residences, labeling the protests illegal. This move comes despite President Samia Suluhu Hassan's earlier attempts to improve Tanzania's human rights record after succeeding John Magufuli in 2021. However, incidents of police brutality against opposition figures continue, particularly as the country approaches local elections in December 2024 and national elections in 2025.
One of the recent flashpoints for opposition anger occurred earlier this month when a senior CHADEMA member was abducted and later found dead with signs of torture, including acid burns. Additionally, in August, Mbowe, Lissu, and hundreds of supporters were briefly detained to stop them from attending a prohibited party meeting.
In a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Lissu shared that his house was surrounded by police vehicles, with officers in riot gear informing him that he was being summoned by the Regional Crimes Officer. Lissu, who survived a 2016 assassination attempt, expressed readiness to comply.
Dar es Salaam's police chief, Jumanne Muliro, justified the strong measures, stating over the weekend that the protests would disturb public order and that strict legal actions would be taken to prevent them.
