(Reuters) – A senior official from Tanzania’s main opposition was arrested on Wednesday outside the court where the treason trial of its leader was under way, a party spokesperson said, a week before a presidential election.
The East African nation’s two largest opposition parties – CHADEMA and ACT-Wazalendo – are barred from contesting the October 29 election, leaving incumbent Samia Suluhu Hassan facing only smaller party candidates.
In the lead-up to the vote, opposition politicians and human rights groups have accused the government of abductions and arrests of political opponents.
Hassan has said that her government is committed to respecting human rights and ordered an investigation into reports of abductions last year. No official findings have been made public.
CHADEMA deputy chair John Heche was being held at the central police station in the country’s commercial capital Dar es Salaam, the party’s Secretary General John Mnyika told reporters, adding that officials had given no reason for his detention.
Heche was detained outside the city’s high court when he arrived to attend the trial of party leader Tundu Lissu, party spokesperson Brenda Rupia said on social media platform X.
She said police had yet to disclose the reason for his arrest and had transferred him to Tarime in northwest Tanzania without giving any further details.
The immigration department said in a statement on Saturday that Heche had left the country without following procedures. His party denied the accusations, saying he had been expected to attend the funeral of Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Tanzanian government spokesperson Gerson Msigwa did not immediately respond to a text message seeking comment on Wednesday’s arrest. Senior police commanders Jumanne Muliro and Yustino Mgonja could not immediately be reached for comment.
