Chadema leaders released, returned to Dar es Salaam under Police escort
What you need to know:
- Alongside Mr Mbowe, the party's vice-chairman for Mainland, Tundu Lissu, was also escorted back to his home in Tegeta
Dar es Salaam. The opposition party Chadema has confirmed that its leaders, including party chairman Freeman Mbowe, have been released and returned to Dar es Salaam under police escort.
Alongside Mr Mbowe, the party's vice-chairman for Mainland, Tundu Lissu, was also escorted back to his home in Tegeta earlier this morning.
On Tuesday, August 13, 2024, Chadema’s director of Communications, Protocol, Publicity, and Foreign Affairs, John Mrema, announced on his X account (formerly Twitter) that “Chadema’s top leaders, including Freeman Mbowe, Tundu Lissu, John Mnyika, and John Pambalu, have been returned to Dar es Salaam by the police and have secured their release on bail.”
Mr Mrema also noted, “There are reports that some leaders of Bavicha (Chadema Youth Council) are still being held by the Mbeya Police. We will provide further updates later.”
Additionally, reports indicate that Mr Lissu and some other party leaders had their phones confiscated by the police in Mbeya.
The leaders were part of a group of 520 Chadema members arrested for allegedly violating a ban on holding a forum to commemorate International Youth Day, observed on August 12 each year.
On August 12, 2024, police head of operations and training, Mr Awadh Haji, announced the release of these leaders and some party members.
However, Mr Haji warned that the police would not hesitate to take action against anyone breaking the law by mimicking actions from other countries.
The arrest of these leaders sparked widespread debate on social media, with various human rights groups and political parties calling for their release.
The ruling party CCM, through its secretary general Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi, urged the Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Hamad Masauni, to facilitate the release of the Chadema leaders detained in Mbeya.
“Give us politicians a chance to discuss these issues. Not everything can be resolved through the law; some matters are political,” said Dr Nchimbi, who is currently on a party tour in the Geita region.
