CHADEMA Vice-Chairperson Tundu Lissu alongside party secretary John Mnyika and Nyasa zone chairperson Joseph Mbilinyi were arrested in Mbeya on the evening of August 11, 2024. This follows a full day of the Police crackdown on CHADEMA members who were traveling to Mbeya for the party’s official celebration of the youth day.
Earlier in the day, Police issued a statement banning all gatherings planned for the youth day event citing that they might lead to the breach of peace. All regional Police officials were advised to stop convoys heading to Mbeya for the celebration.
By mid-day, CHADEMA’s youth wing Vice Chairperson, Moza Ally reported that 20 buses full of members who were traveling to Mbeya for the celebration were stopped in Iringa, Makambako, and Mtera.
Pictures of a large group of detained CHADEMA members were shared by party officials, with about 109 members detained in Iringa. One of the arrested members is Awema Othman Nassor who was travelling with her six-month daughter.
In response to the issue, CHADEMA’s Vice Chairperson, Tundu Lissu shared on X that he is also heading to Mbeya for the meeting urging party members that it is time to be counted.
“Youth Day is recognized legally not just in the country but worldwide. We will not accept the government of Samia to take us to Magufuli practices, even if all of you leave, I will remain here. I’m here to celebrate Youth Day, either we will celebrate it or we will be in prison,” said Lissu at the Mbeya Airport.
Party Secretary, John Mnyika also explained that the party had received a letter from the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties to stop preparation for the Youth Day and that the CHADEMA Chairperson, Secretary, and youth wing leader were summoned by the registrar.
“We will not show up to the Registrar on the 13th of August as he had asked, he is being used to disrupt CHADEMA activities. We will deal directly with this political discrimination by the Registrar and the Police,” said Mnyika.
The party officials went on to hold an emergency meeting at the Nyasa zone offices amidst a large presence from the Police. At around 7, the party reported a meeting with Mbeya police.
The meeting ended with the report of the arrests of CHADEMA Vice Chairperson Tundu Lissu, party secretary John Mnyika, Nyasa Zone Chairperson Joseph Mbilinyi, Youth Wing Vice Chairperson Moza Ally, and Youth Wing Mobilization Coordinator Twaha Mwaipaya.
Party Chairperson, Freeman Mbowe has called for the immediate unconditional release of the arrested leader. 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.
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.
