Tanzania Arrests Chadema Leaders Including Tundu Lissu

Tanzanian police have detained prominent opposition politician Tundu Lissu and two officials from the Chadema party in Mbeya, just before a planned rally to commemorate World Youth Day. The arrests occurred on Sunday, raising concerns about the state of political freedoms in the country, despite recent promises from President Samia Hassan to restore competitive politics following the lifting of a ban on opposition gatherings last year. The planned rally, which aimed to gather around 10,000 young people under the slogan "Take charge of your future," was met with police resistance. Authorities issued a statement prohibiting such gatherings in Mbeya and across the nation. In addition to Lissu's arrest, Chadema officials reported that approximately 100 party members were detained in the nearby town of Iringa, although they were later released and escorted back to their original locations. Lissu, who survived a near-fatal assassination attempt in 2017, returned to Tanzania last year after spending two years in exile in Belgium. His return coincided with President Samia's efforts to distance her administration from the repressive policies of her predecessor, John Magufuli. However, the recent arrests have sparked criticism from opposition figures, who argue that the current administration is not genuinely committed to political reconciliation. As Tanzania approaches presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for late next year, the political climate remains tense, with opposition leaders expressing concerns over the government's commitment to democratic principles.