When Samia, Tanzania’s first female president, assumed power, there was a great deal of satisfaction since opposition parties could now criticize the administration and plan rallies without worrying about facing serious consequences.
However, there is increasing worry that Tanzania is regressing to the authoritarian period of her predecessor, John Magufuli.
Two of the most prominent opposition figures have been arrested twice in recent weeks, while Ali Kibao, another opposition politician, was kidnapped, slain, and his corpse drenched in acid by unidentified assailants.
“The state of politics in Tanzania is extremely concerning,” stated Tundu Lissu, the deputy leader of the main opposition Chadema party.
A week prior to his apprehension on Monday, when his party was scheduled to demonstrate against Kibao’s murder and the purported abduction of multiple other government opponents, he was chatting with the news. Later, Lissu and party head Freeman Mbowe were both freed on bail.
