Tanzanian police have detained opposition party vice-president Tundu Lissu ahead of a banned protest in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The announcement was made on the social media of Chadema, an opposition party, which explained that its vice-president was taken away by a caravan, without specifying which police station he was heading to.
The demonstrations were in protest against the disappearance and murder of one of the leaders of the Chadema party, Ali Mohamed Kibao, who was kidnapped by unknown men and found dead on September 7th.
The party has denounced “growing political repression” just months before local elections scheduled for November and directly accused President Samia Suluhu Hassan of returning to the authoritarian practices of his predecessor John Magufuli.
Police banned the demonstration, but the Chadema party called for protests against the assassination of one of its party leaders, asking people to take to the streets of Dar es Salaam.
“Since last night (Sunday) and until this morning, the police have closed all roads leading to the home of Chadema President Freeman Mbowe. Everyone on the roads is being stopped, searched and questioned,” the opposition party announced on social media.
Police commander Jumanne Muliro stressed over the weekend that “since the demonstrations were announced, the police have publicly stated that protests are prohibited.”
Several non-governmental organizations and embassies, particularly from the United States, have already expressed concern about the “current political climate” in Tanzania.