Senior Officials OF The Opposition Party Chadema Arrested Check Below

Tanzania police have arrested senior officials of the opposition party Chadema amidst a crackdown linked to deadly protests post violence election. Among those detained is John Heche, the deputy chairperson of Chadema, who was apprehended while attempting to attend the treason trial of party leader Tundu Lissu. The police have also detained several other party leaders and hundreds of supporters, accusing them of inciting illegal demonstrations and public unrest. The arrests occurred just before a planned Chadema meeting in southwestern Tanzania, which the police had banned due to concerns about potential violence.

Chadema officials say that four party leaders and three members are currently held on allegations related to organizing and mobilizing protests. The detained include Chief Kalumuna, Paulo Musisi, Daniel Lwebugisa, Egbert Kikulega, Ramadhan Fadhili, Revocatus Willison, and Baziri Waziri, among others. The situation has escalated tension as the country approaches the elections, with the opposition strongly condemning the arrests and calling for the release of their leaders.

This clampdown is part of a broader crackdown on Chadema by Tanzanian authorities. The party has experienced bans on rallies and arrests of prominent members, including former presidential candidate Tundu Lissu, accused of inciting unrest. The opposition accuses the ruling government of suppressing democratic processes ahead of the polls. The police have stated they are investigating the detained individuals and will proceed with court actions accordingly, though no court directives for producing suspects before magistrates have been issued yet.

Overall, the arrests of Chadema leaders highlight the tense political climate in Tanzania as the nation gears up for its 2025 presidential and parliamentary elections, with authorities citing security concerns while opposition claims repressive measures against dissent and political opposition.​