Police, Chadema flex muscles over alleged demonstrations, storming police stations

Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Police Force and Chadema have flexed muscles over claims of planned demonstrations through an online meeting, with the main opposition party demanding the force to provide evidence.

A police statement signed by its spokesperson, David Misime, issued on August 30, 2024, alleges that Chadema leaders held an online meeting in which they planned to stage nationwide protests and storm police stations.

The statement says the decision comes after the High Court of Tanzania in the Dar es Salaam Division squashed a petition against the missing party’s youth wing leaders (Bavicha).

The youth leaders, who are claimed to have been abducted include Deusdedit Soka, Jacob Godwin Mlay, and Frank Mbise.

The request demanding the release or court appearance of the three individuals was rejected on August 28, 2024, with the court ordering a comprehensive investigation by the law enforcers.

In the statement, Mr Misime said the police had received the court order and had intensified the investigation, which had already begun after reports of the leaders’ disappearance.

“Following the High Court's decision, the Police received credible information that Chadema leaders held an electronic meeting (Zoom) and agreed to take action because they were dissatisfied with the court’s decisions that did not reflect their goals,” Misime says.

In the Zoom meeting, added Mr Misime, Chadema reportedly resolved to mobilise their supporters to stage protests at various locations, including several offices.

“They instructed groups of about 20 youths to attack police stations in Dar es Salaam simultaneously. The police issued a strong warning to anyone coordinating, encouraging, or participating in such planned criminal activities aimed at disrupting the country’s peace. They will be dealt with according to the laws of the land,” he says.

“The police want to emphasise that anyone arriving at any police station with malicious intent will be dealt with accordingly,” adds Mr Misime.

Contacted by The Citizen’s sister paper, Mwananchi, Chadema’s national chairman, Mr Freeman Mbowe, described the police report as false.

“We are concerned about the safety and rights of our leaders who are being abducted and disappeared, but the report that we held a Zoom meeting is a lie,” he said.

“I regret that a crucial institution like the police can issue such false reports. Let them provide evidence of the Zoom meeting details, including attendants, timeline, and exact date,” added Mr Mbowe, insisting that he is currently abroad and no such meeting was scheduled.

The former Hai Constituency lawmaker and Leader of the Official Opposition in Parliament had sought to know who organised the Zoom meeting, emphasising that as the party chairman, he was completely unaware.

“We are concerned and communicating individually about the safety of our leaders, but claiming that a meeting was held with resolutions to attack police stations is a baseless statement and a lack of professionalism,” he said.

He added that the police report aims at avoiding responding to fundamental questions about the party member’s whereabouts, insisting that the three are in the hands of police.

“Provide evidence if you have it, but the most important thing is to tell us where our party cadres are because reports say they were arrested by police who should know their whereabouts,” he said.