Mbeya, Tanzania – Top leaders of Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, were released on bail Monday night after a tense standoff with police over a planned youth assembly.
Freeman Mbowe, party chairman; Tundu Lissu, vice chairman; and John Mnyika, secretary-general, were among those detained by authorities in the southern city of Mbeya. The arrests came hours after police banned the assembly, citing potential unrest.
Chadema had organized the event to mark International Youth Day, but the government accused the party of inciting violence through social media posts. The opposition, however, denied the allegations.
Hundreds of Chadema supporters were also arrested across the country as they attempted to converge on Mbeya for the gathering.
Commissioner Awadh Haji, head of the Tanzania police force’s operations and training unit, confirmed the release of the Chadema leaders and other detainees during a late-night press conference. However, he warned that the government would not tolerate attempts to undermine peace and stability.
The latest confrontation between the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party and Chadema highlights growing political tensions in the East African nation ahead of local government elections scheduled for later this year.
