Four leaders of Tanzania’s main opposition party released hours after arrest

September 24 (EUROPA PRESS) –

Tanzanian police have released four senior leaders of the main opposition party, the Tanzania Democracy and Development Party (Chadema), on bail, just hours after they were arrested along with ten other party members ahead of the start of protests called for the day against arbitrary arrests, abductions and politically motivated killings.

Chadema has reported on social media the release of the party’s Secretary General, Freeman Mbowe, Deputy Secretary General, Benson Kigaila, its Vice President Tundu Lissu, and a member of the Central Committee, Godbless Lema.

The party has also said that Mbowe will remain in the police station from which he was released until the rest of the detainees are released on bail. They have all been arrested for having ignored the ban issued by the authorities against protests called by the opposition.

Chadema has warned that security forces surrounded Mbowe’s home before placing him under house arrest hours before he left home to lead anti-government protests. Security forces have been patrolling the city for three days to quell any hint of protest.