Some leaders of Tanzania’s main opposition Chadema party have been confirmed among 14 members who were briefly detained on Monday, as police attempted to block a banned demonstration in the main city, Dar es Salaam.
On X Chadema chairman, Freeman Mbowe, was taken into custody as he was preparing to principal a peaceful protest.
Police also went to the home of the party’s deputy leader Tundu Lissu with a convoy of 11 vehicles and arrested him, according to Chadema.
Critics fear that the arrests is a sign that the country could be returning to the more brutal rule of the previous President, John Magufuli.
According to Chadema they had planned the demonstrations to protest against unproven recent killings and abductions of opposition officials in the country.
Last week, President Samia Suluhu Hassan advised against demonstrations and any related moves, noting that her administration would not tolerate any action that would endanger law and order.
Police declared the protests illegal, but the opposition had vowed to defy the ban.
