Tanzania Police have detained at least a hundred CHADEMA members who were heading to Mbeya, the region designated by the party for the official celebration of Youth Day, which is observed annually on August 12 worldwide.

Arrests began last night, August 10, 2024, when several youths from the Temeke region, who were organizing their convoy to Mbeya, were detained. The situation continued on August 11, 2024, with youth from various regions being stopped at multiple checkpoints.

This comes a day since the ruling party youth celebrated Youth Day in Zanzibar on August 10, 2024, a celebration that attracted hundreds of ruling party supporters from across the country. Speaking about the incident, the Vice Chairperson of the CHADEMA youth wing Moza Ally said about 20 buses were stopped at various checkpoints in Iringa, Makambako, and Mtera.

“I urge the Police to release the youth who are traveling to Mbeya. CCM’s youth held their celebration at the Aman stadium and the Police were there to protect them. How come for CHADEMA’s youth it is different, you are focusing on sabotaging us,” enquired Moza.

Several youths had a stand down with the Police who stopped them at the Kilolo checkpoint in Iringa, leading to the arrest of more than 70 CHADEMA members. On social media pictures of CHADEMA youth packed in police cars were circulated.

Earlier in the morning, the Police released a statement saying that they have stopped all gatherings around the Youth Day celebration citing a statement from CHADEMA youth leader Twaha Mwaipaya which the Police say is an indication of plans to disrupt peace.

The statement that the Police quoted reads: “If you are a young person who loves your country, Tanzania, and has cried for it all your life, on the 12th of August 2024, we are going to determine the fate of our nation in the Mbeya region.”

“We are serious about this matter, so all the young people of CHADEMA, just like the youth in Kenya have recognized their strength, on the 12th of August 2024, we are going to stop clientelism to the government as we will outline powerful resolutions for the local government elections and the general election of 2025, “continue to read the statement that the Police says is from Mwaipaya, The Chanzo is yet to place where Mwaipaya made the statement.

The Police went on to warn anyone who is planning to demonstrate or hold any gathering whether external or internal in the country and directed the Police Regional Commissioners to stop all youth who are heading to Mbeya for the CHADEMA gathering.

“Following those statements and various declarations made by these leaders, the Police Force has decided to ban any demonstrations and gatherings, whether indoors or outdoors, that aim to take place under the guise of celebrating International Youth Day, as they are intended to cause a breach of peace in Mbeya region and any other areas within the United Republic of Tanzania,” reads part of the statement signed by Awadhi Haji the Police Commissioner of Operation and Training.

Responding to the detention of several CHADEMA members, the CHADEMA’s Vice Chairperson Tundu Lissu said on X post that he is on his way to Mbeya. “To all the youth in Mbeya and those heading there: I am also on my way to Mbeya to join you. If it means being stopped or arrested, then let them stop or arrest me too,” said Lissu.

This is the third time in the past three years that CHADEMA has designated a specific region for a youth day celebration. Last year it was Mwanza and in the year 2022, it was in Shinyanga, in both instances a hundred youths traveled from various regions and met in a designated region.

The Mwananchi Newspaper has also reported that the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties has issued an order to CHADEMA, banning the planned Youth Celebration Day scheduled for August 12, 2024, citing the same statement from Twaha Mwaipaya as an indication for breach of peace.