Good morning!The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on August 12, 2024
Tanzania police say it has released 520 CHADEMA members arrested in a major opposition crackdown
Tanzanian police say it has released 520 members of the opposition party CHADEMA, who were arrested during the largest police crackdown against the party’s Youth Day celebration event. Speaking yesterday at around 10 in the night, Police Commissioner for Operation and Training Awadhi Haji, said some members were released on bail while other were just let go.
Among those released are 375 CHADEMA members—261 men and 114 women—who were detained at various locations across the country on August 11, 2024, as they traveled to Mbeya. The detainees included 28 members arrested in Morogoro, 109 in Iringa, 60 in Njombe, 19 in Dar es Salaam, 41 in the Coast region, 30 in Rukwa, and 51 in Songwe.
Police say it has also released arrested leaders including CHADEMA Vice Chairperson Tundu Lissu, Party Secretary John Mnyika, Nyasa Zone Chairperson Joseph Mbilinyi, Youth Mobilization Coordinator Twaha Mwaipaya, and Youth Wing Vice Chairperson Moza Ally. Police claimed these leaders were escorted to their destinations, although no official confirmation has come from the party or close associates.
Additionally, 145 people—112 men and 33 women—arrested on August 12, 2024, including party Chairperson Freeman Mbowe and Youth Wing leader John Pambalu, have also been freed according to the Police. Mbowe and Pambalu were arrested at the Songwe airport where they arrived to follow up on the fate of their arrested members.
Several of those released required hospitalization due to injuries sustained during the arrests, including a youth leader from Arusha, who was reportedly unable to walk. Photos of him lying in a hospital bed were shared by colleagues.
Activist-lawyers Alphonce Lusako and Deogratias Mahinyila who were with Vice Chairperson Tundu Lissu during the arrest, reported that they were severely beaten by the police.
“I was beaten, but I was numb the whole time,” said Mahinyila in an X post. “I kept wondering why they were beating Tundu Lissu. Don’t they even fear God? They didn’t even care about his leg.”
What can explain the latest police crackdown on CHADEMA?
Tanzania is witnessing a massive crackdown against members of the country’s opposition parties not seen since President Samia Suluhu Hassan expressed willingness to implement measures to improve political pluralism in the East African nation, including freeing political prisoners and lifting a ban on political rallies.
As of Monday afternoon, police across the country had arrested dozens of opposition members and officials, mainly from CHADEMA and ACT-Wazalendo. The crackdown has also involved police banning political rallies that opposition parties planned to organize in some parts of the country and authorities banning internal opposition meetings.
CHADEMA deputy secretary general (Tanzania Mainland) Benson Kigaila told a press conference Monday that police have arrested about 443 CHADEMA members and officials since August 10, 2024, adding that many of them are held unlawfully. Police arrested many in Dar es Salaam, Iringa, Dodoma, and Rukwa.
On August 11, police arrested 110 CHADEMA youth in Iringa who were en route to Mbeya to participate in the party’s commemoration of the 2024 International Youth Day, organized by the party’s youth wing BAVICHA. Mr Kigaiya told journalists that the party doesn’t know the whereabouts of many of its arrested members and officials, noting that police refuse to let them know the locations.
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Amnesty International condemns the arrest of CHADEMA leaders and members
The international human rights organization, Amnesty International, has joined local stakeholders in condemning the arrest of leaders and supporters of the opposition party, Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA).
In its statement released, on Monday, August 12, 2024, the international organization has urged Tanzanian authorities to respect, protect, and fulfill the human rights of all individuals as the country approaches the local government elections this year and the General Elections in 2025.
“Authorities should end the unlawful arrests of opposition politicians and lift restrictions on citizens’ rights to assemble,” the organization’s statement reads.
Amnesty International went further, calling for the immediate release of all those detained and insisting that if anyone is guilty, their rights, including the right to be informed of the reasons for their arrest, should be respected.
In conjunction with Amnesty International’s statement, the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS), the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), the Tanzania Editors’ Forum (TEF), and the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC) have also condemned these actions.
On the other hand, the Secretary General of the ruling party, Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), Dr. Emmanuel Nchimbi, has directed the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Daniel Sillo, to consult with his minister, Hamad Masauni, to explore the possibility of releasing the CHADEMA leaders arrested in Mbeya, including the party’s chairman, Freeman Mbowe.
Dr. Nchimbi made these remarks , Monday, August 12, 2024, while speaking at a public meeting in Katoro Ward, Geita Region, during his ongoing tour from Kagera Region.
He mentioned that he made efforts to reach out to leaders of other political parties for discussions as political parties, and he communicated with some of the secretaries-general, but he received information that some of them had been arrested in Mbeya.
“Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, speak with the Minister. We request that you explore the possibility of releasing the political party leaders who were arrested in Mbeya.
“Give us the opportunity, as politicians, to have discussions. Not everything is resolved legally; some issues are political,” said Dr. Nchimbi, directing the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, who accompanied him on the tour.
Government completes review of the 2007 Youth Development Policy
The government has completed the review of the 2007 National Youth Development Policy, which has been revised in 2024, addressing numerous challenges identified by young people due to the lack of guidelines in certain areas.
Speaking during the launch of the policy on World Youth Day, August 12, 2024, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Labor, Youth, Employment, and People with Disabilities, Ridhiwan Kikwete, stated that the review has identified many issues affecting the youth, and the new policy will provide solutions.
“Many challenges faced by the youth stem from the fact that some areas lack proper guidelines. Through this Youth Policy, I am confident that the needs of the majority of young people will be addressed,” he explained.
The review of this policy has been a long-standing demand from many youth stakeholders. For the first time, the policy recognizes the wide range of youth activities, including arts, sports, and innovation.
“[This policy] will outline the direction and methods we will use together to achieve the goals that address your challenges. This policy will establish a National Youth Council. The establishment of this council will help identify and solve many of the youth’s challenges. Young people lacked platforms to voice their challenges, people to listen to them, and a system to address their issues collectively,” he added.
The new policy will allow the establishment of the long overdue the Youth Council.
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One Response
if this is not hypocrisy of the highest order, why would the general secretary of the ruling party “order” the Home Affairs Minister to release those illegally arrested and under policy custody??Is the GS of the ruling party an appointing authority of the Minister???