Tanzanian opposition leaders Freeman Mbowe and Tundu Lissu push for peaceful protests despite government crackdown

In a demonstration of resilience and commitment to peaceful activism, Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, stood firm in the face of a government crackdown on a planned rally against alleged political repression. On Monday, opposition leaders Freeman Mbowe and Tundu Lissu were arrested, but their calls for peaceful protests have resonated across the nation.

Chadema leaders organized the rally in the Magomeni area of Dar-es-Salaam to protest the recent disappearances and killings of government critics. Despite police warnings and a heavy deployment of riot officers, the party insisted on maintaining a non-violent approach. “We are neither carrying any weapons nor planning to violate the peace,” Mbowe said in a statement ahead of the protest.

Police arrested 14 individuals, including Mbowe and Lissu, for defying the ban on the gathering. Riot police with water cannons had been deployed across the city since Saturday, with blockades placed outside the homes of Chadema leaders before the arrests.

Also Read: Egypt strengthens ties with Somalia through military aid, cooperation

Lissu, a survivor of a 2016 assassination attempt, remained undeterred. He shared on social media that police were stationed outside his home, prepared to take him into custody, but he calmly complied, preparing to meet with the Regional Crimes Officer.

Despite the arrests, Chadema continues to push for democratic reforms, accusing the government of President Samia Suluhu Hassan of reverting to oppressive measures. Human rights groups and Western governments, including the U.S., have condemned the crackdowns as harmful to Tanzania’s democratic progress.

The opposition party’s peaceful stance has drawn attention to the importance of civil liberties ahead of local elections and next year’s national vote. As Chadema perseveres, their actions highlight the power of peaceful resistance in the face of adversity, inspiring both domestic and international support for democratic rights in Tanzania.