Tanzania police arrest opposition party official after deadly election protests | Tanzania
Tanzanian authorities have detained a senior official from the main opposition party Chadema, following a spate of arrests in connection with deadly protests during last week’s elections.
According to Chadema and human rights organizations, more than 1,000 people were killed by security forces during the demonstrations. The Tanzanian government said these figures were exaggerated but did not provide its own figures.
Deputy secretary-general Amani Golugwa was arrested by police on Saturday, Chadema said, while authorities sought the arrest of nine more people, including others in the party.
Tanzanian authorities have charged more than 200 people with treason following last week’s protests; this charge could carry the death penalty, but there have been no executions in the country since 1995.
Incumbent president Samia Suluhu Hassan was deemed the winner of the election with 98 percent of the vote, but the opposition, which was barred from participating, denounced the results as fraudulent.
The government claimed the elections were free and fair, but main rivals were not allowed to run and election observers said the voting was undemocratic and cited incidents of ballot paper stuffing.
“The police force, in collaboration with other defense and security agencies, is continuing a serious manhunt to find anyone who planned, coordinated and carried out this evil act,” a police spokesman said in a statement.
Among those wanted to be arrested were Chadema’s general secretary, John Mnyika, and its communications officer, Brenda Rupia.
Chadema’s leader, Tundu Lissu, was charged with treason in April and was not allowed to participate in the elections. The removal of Lissu and other political figures from the ballot sparked the protests that followed.
According to Amnesty International, in the run-up to the elections, Tanzanian authorities carried out enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and extrajudicial killings.
In the statement made by the authorities, it was stated that the protests held in various cities of Tanzania on October 29 led to violence and clashes with the police.
Amnesty International said authorities cut off internet access and used excessive force to suppress post-election protests.
Rights groups said the government was cracking down on people perceived to be associated with the protests, including prominent businesswoman Jenifer Jovin, who was accused of encouraging protesters to buy gas masks.
President Samia acknowledged there were deaths but blamed foreigners for the unrest, saying: “It was no surprise that those arrested were from other countries.”
Despite the protests, Samia was sworn into office on Monday. The opening ceremony was televised but closed to the public at a military parade in the capital.
Samia became Tanzania’s first female president in 2021 after then-president John Magufuli died in office while he was vice president. He was initially praised by activists for easing political pressure, but was later accused of turning the tide.
