Tanzania has released four senior opposition figures from custody following weeks of arrests linked to violent protests over the country’s disputed general election, the opposition Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) party confirmed late Monday.
The detainees, including CHADEMA Vice Chairman John Heche and Deputy Secretary-General Amani Golugwa, were granted bail after being held on allegations connected to what
authorities described as “unlawful demonstrations” that erupted last month. The protests followed the declaration of President Samia Suluhu Hassan as the winner of the controversial election with nearly 98 percent of the vote — a result the opposition has rejected as fraudulent.
According to CHADEMA, Heche was initially detained on October 22 and questioned on terrorism-related charges, while Golugwa was arrested over the past weekend. Their release comes amid mounting international concern over the government’s handling of post-election unrest and accusations of widespread human rights violations.
The protests, which swept through major urban centers including Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, and Arusha, have been described as Tanzania’s most severe political crisis in decades. CHADEMA and several human rights organizations claim that more than 1,000 people were killed by security forces during the unrest — a figure the government has dismissed as “grossly exaggerated.” Authorities have not released an official casualty count.
The opposition’s legal troubles continue, however. Tundu Lissu, CHADEMA’s national leader and a longtime critic of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, remains in detention facing treason charges filed in April. His disqualification from contesting the presidential election is widely seen as one of the catalysts for the nationwide demonstrations.
Last Friday, Tanzanian prosecutors charged 145 individuals with treason and another 170 with lesser protest-related offences, accusing them of attempting to destabilize the country. Lawyers for several detainees have condemned the charges as politically motivated and an attempt to silence dissent.
President Hassan’s administration has faced growing criticism from both domestic and international observers, who accuse it of eroding democratic freedoms. African Union election observers said the vote “fell short of key democratic benchmarks,” citing voter intimidation and restrictions on opposition campaign activities.
Hassan has repeatedly denied accusations of political repression, insisting that the election was “free, fair, and peaceful.” Her government has also rejected claims of arbitrary arrests and abductions of critics. In 2024, she ordered an official investigation into reports of forced disappearances of opposition members, though the findings of that inquiry have yet to be made public.
Political analysts say the release of the CHADEMA leaders may be an attempt to ease domestic and international pressure on the administration, which has faced scrutiny from the United Nations, European Union, and regional bodies over its handling of dissent.
Human rights advocates, however, warn that the underlying tensions remain unresolved. “Granting bail is not the same as ensuring justice,” said a Dar es Salaam-based rights lawyer. “As long as treason and terrorism charges are used against peaceful protesters, political freedoms in Tanzania will remain under serious threat.”
The situation remains tense, with CHADEMA vowing to continue its campaign for electoral reform and the release of all detained members. The party has called for renewed dialogue with the government under international mediation to prevent further unrest.
Source:Africa Publicity
