Tanzania opposition chief arraigned in court for financing terrorism

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania 

The Chairman of Tanzania's main opposition party (Chadema),  Freeman Mbowe has on Monday July 26 been arraigned at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate's Court facing charges  of economic sabotage, conspiracy and FInancing terrorist activities.

Mbowe’s case was read by Senior State Attorney, Ester Martin assisted by Tulimanywa Majigo, before the Chief Resident Magistrate, Thomas Simba.

Mbowe and several other party leaders were arrested on July 21 night, this year in Mwanza city hotels where they went to attend a conference to demand constitutional reforms amid tussles with the police who branded the gathering “illegal.

However, he was transferred to Dar es Salaam, where his house was searched during the night. 

The police force alleged in their statement that the opposition politician was arrested in connection with terrorism and a conspiracy to assassinate government leaders.

The statement, signed by the police spokesperson, David Misime, said the law enforcers had been compelled to issue a statement on why they were holding Mbowe after realising that his party was releasing misleading statements regarding the reasons behind the arrest of the party’s national chairman.

Chadema had said that its leader was being held for interrogations for organising a forum in Mwanza that was meant to deliberate on demands for a new constitution. Police had, however, aborted the forum that was to be held at a hotel in Mwanza.

The party said Mbowe's family and lawyers were told he was being transferred to hospital for health checks but was instead "taken to the court quietly" and charged without any of his legal representatives present.

The charges come four months after Tanzania's first female President Samia Suluhu Hassan took office following the sudden death in March of John Magufuli, under whose autocratic rule such clampdowns on the opposition were frequent.

Hassan had reached out to the opposition and vowed to defend democracy and basic freedoms, spurring optimism that Tanzania would be steered away from the heavy-handed and uncompromising leadership of her predecessor.

But the roundup of key Chadema figures was condemned by rights groups and opposition activists as evidence the administration's intolerance of dissent still prevailed.

The United States expressed concern over Mbowe's arrest and urged Hassan to ensure freedoms for all Tanzanians.