Tanzania police warns opposition: “Protest at your peril”

Dar es Salaam. The Police Force has issued a stern warning to members of the opposition party, Chadema, cautioning that any attempt to hold banned demonstrations will be met with swift and forceful action.

Speaking during a live phone interview on Wasafi FM's morning program, Dar es Salaam Special Police Zone Commander Jumanne Muliro reiterated that the situation in the city was calm and that law enforcement would ensure it remained so.

"If those who announced the protests try to proceed, I don't believe they will, but if they do, they will be dealt with harshly and in accordance with the law," said Mr Muliro.

His remarks were in response to Chadema Chairman Freeman Mbowe, who insisted on Sunday that the party’s planned demonstrations would take place peacefully on Monday, September 23, 2024.

The protests aim to commemorate party leaders who have disappeared or been killed under suspicious circumstances and to pressure the government into addressing these cases.

Mbowe first called for demonstrations on September 11, 2024, urging Dar es Salaam residents and Chadema supporters to join the streets in protest, starting September 23.

The opposition leader emphasized that the protests aimed to demand government transparency regarding party members who have gone missing, including secretariat member Ally Mohamed Kibao, whose body was discovered in the Ununio area of Dar es Salaam after his abduction.

However, the police force, through spokesperson David Misime, had already declared on Friday, September 13, that the protests were prohibited.

Muliro reinforced this position on Monday, asserting that the police were prepared to handle any attempts to defy the ban.

He said statements from opposition leaders had raised concerns about potential unrest, leading to the decision to prohibit the demonstrations.

“Our duty is to monitor and investigate. Based on these concerns, the protests were banned,” he explained.

Muliro expressed confidence that the opposition understood the police directive and would not proceed.

“If they act out of misunderstanding, they will be made to understand through our actions that what they are doing is against the law,” he said.

As of Monday morning, Muliro reported that Dar es Salaam’s daily activities were continuing without disruption.

“People are going to school, working in markets like Feri and Kariakoo, and attending hospitals as usual. The situation is calm, and there are no signs of protests,” he added.

The police commander urged Tanzanians not to be fearful but to continue with their day-to-day routines.

“Students should attend school, doctors should report to hospitals, and workers from both government and non-government sectors should go to work as normal. The heightened security is for their protection,” he assured.

Reports from various areas of Dar es Salaam, including Ilala Boma, show a heavy presence of riot police from the Field Force Unit.

Armed officers were also spotted along Morogoro Road, near Mfugale Bridge, in what appears to be an extensive security operation.