On August
11, 2024, more members were arrested as 20 buses were stopped at various
roadblocks in Iringa, Makambako, and Mtera, according to Chadema Youth Council
Vice Chair Moza Ally. Photo: Courtesy
By
Adonis Byemelwa
Dar
es Salaam. In what appears to be a resounding retreat from the
political pluralism once championed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzania
is now gripped by an intense crackdown on opposition parties.
The
President, who was initially celebrated for her commitment to releasing
political prisoners and lifting bans on political rallies, is now facing a
political climate riddled with sweeping arrests, repressive measures, and an
escalating standoff with opposition groups.
Since
Monday, the Tanzanian police have launched an aggressive campaign targeting
opposition members and officials, particularly those affiliated with Chadema
and ACT-Wazalendo. This latest wave of repression has seen not only the arrest
of dozens but also the prohibition of political rallies and the shutdown of
internal opposition meetings, signaling a significant regression from the
anticipated political openness that many had hoped would define Samia's
administration.
Chadema’s
Deputy Secretary General for Mainland Tanzania, Benson Kigaila, sounded the
alarm during a press conference, revealing that since August 10, 2024,
approximately 443 Chadema members and officials have been arrested, many under
dubious legal grounds. The arrests span key regions, including Dar es Salaam,
Iringa, Dodoma, and Rukwa, painting a grim picture of a country slipping back
into the clutches of authoritarian rule.
The
crackdown has not spared even the highest echelons of the opposition
leadership. On August 11, police arrested Chadema’s Deputy National Chairperson
Tundu Lissu, who was scheduled to be the guest of honor at the Youth Day event
in Mbeya.
Secretary
General John Mnyika and Zonal Chairperson Joseph Mbilinyi were also
apprehended, and the crackdown extended beyond politicians to include
journalists, with five detained. Among them were two journalists from Chadema
Media, two from Jambo TV, and one from Mwanzo TV.
The
arrest of Chadema National Chairperson Freeman Mbowe in Mbeya early Monday morning
only added fuel to the fire. Mbowe had traveled to Mbeya with hopes of
negotiating the release of detained party members and securing permission for
the Youth Day commemoration to proceed. His detention underscored a chilling
message from the authorities—that the crackdown on opposition voices is far
from over.
“The
police are clearly warning us that anyone who dares inquire about our detained
members will face the same fate. But we will not be silenced,” Kigaila declared
defiantly, signaling Chadema’s resolve to resist this latest wave of
repression.
In
Dar es Salaam, the police reportedly thwarted a rally organized by
ACT-Wazalendo’s youth wing in Mbagala, though police officials have denied
these claims. Social media was abuzz with reports of at least three
ACT-Wazalendo officials being detained.
Undeterred, ACT-Wazalendo’s Secretary General
Ado Shaibu vowed to defy the police ban and push ahead with the rally,
demanding the immediate release of all detained Chadema members and officials.
The
crackdown has ignited widespread outrage among civil society groups and
political analysts. ACT-Wazalendo’s Deputy National Chairperson for Mainland
Tanzania, Isihaka Mchinjita, condemned the police’s actions as “an attack on
democracy.” The Tanzania Human Rights
Defenders
Coalition (THRDC) labeled the crackdown “unconstitutional and illegal,” calling
for the immediate release of all detainees. The Legal and Human Rights Centre
(LHRC) also criticized the police, urging them to operate within the bounds of
the Constitution and respect the rights of all citizens.
Behind
this crackdown lies a growing unease among Tanzanian authorities over the
potential for youth-led anti-government protests similar to those rocking
Kenya. On Sunday, Police Chief Awadh Haji cited these concerns, pointing to
statements by Chadema officials that allegedly mirrored the rhetoric behind
Kenya’s "Gen Z protests."
Twaha
Mwaipaya, Bavicha Mobilization Officer, had called on supporters to attend the
Mbeya event with the same resolve as seen in Kenya. “They want to bring the
same chaos here that their Kenyan peers have sparked,” Haji warned, emphasizing
that the police would respond with strict measures. “When we say it’s
prohibited, we mean it in capital letters.”
Political
analyst Mussa Lugete, based in Ununio, Dar es Salaam, believes the police’s
actions stem from a deep-seated fear of similar uprisings in Tanzania.
“The
Kenyan protests have raised alarm bells that Tanzanian youth might start asking
uncomfortable questions,” he observed. These questions, he added, could focus
on the ostentatious wealth displayed by politicians, which starkly contrasts
with the widespread poverty and unemployment plaguing the nation. Lugete
criticized the government’s strategy, arguing that silencing legitimate
concerns is both ineffective and unsustainable. He urged the authorities to
engage with the youth’s grievances rather than suppress them.
“This
crackdown is a regrettable step backward. It tarnishes the image of the country
and undermines the progress that President Samia promised. Instead of signaling
a new beginning, it gives the impression that Tanzania is trapped in a cycle of
repression, where nothing has truly changed.”
This
scenario is emblematic of a broader trend observed across African democracies,
where governments, facing rising demands for transparency and accountability,
increasingly resort to authoritarian tactics to stifle opposition. In countries
like Uganda, Zimbabwe, and Cameroon, opposition parties often find themselves
operating under the constant threat of government crackdowns, with leaders and
supporters frequently arrested, harassed, or subjected to violence.
These
regimes, while maintaining the facade of democracy, impose a version of
governance where electoral competition is tightly controlled, and dissent is
systematically crushed. This imposed democracy, as it is often referred to,
undermines the very principles of democratic governance, eroding public trust
and exacerbating political instability.
In
Tanzania, the latest crackdown not only raises concerns about the state of
democracy under President Samia’s administration but also highlights a
disturbing continuity with the authoritarian practices of her predecessor.
The
world watched as President John Magufuli’s administration became increasingly
repressive, with opposition figures and activists facing intense persecution.
The transition to President Samia had initially sparked hope for a more open
and inclusive political landscape.
Nevertheless,
the current wave of repression suggests that the fundamental dynamics of power
in Tanzania remain unchanged. Rather than fostering a genuinely democratic
environment where opposition voices can be heard and respected, the state
appears intent on maintaining tight control, even at the cost of basic
freedoms.
As
the situation continues to unfold, the international community’s response will
be closely watched. Tanzania’s strategic importance in East Africa means that
its internal politics reverberate beyond its borders. Yet, the question remains
whether external pressure will be sufficient to halt this alarming slide into
authoritarianism or whether Tanzanians will be left to grapple with the
consequences of a political system that seems increasingly resistant to change.
