A court in Tanzania has charged Freeman Mbowe, the leader of the main opposition party with terrorism-related offenses, following his arrest which has drawn international concern.
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.
The Chadema chairman was detained last week along with 15 other members of the party in a late-night crackdown government critics said bore the hallmarks of the oppressive rule of the country’s late leader.
Chadema said Mbowe had been charged in Kisutu court with terrorism crimes without his family or lawyers present.
The party chairman and the other Chadema officials were arrested in the Lake Victoria port city of Mwanza last Wednesday ahead of a planned public meeting to demand constitutional reform.
Mbowe was transferred to a prison in Dar es Salaam where police said he was being held “for plotting terrorism acts including to kill government leaders”.
Meanwhile, State prosecutor Ester Martin said Mbowe had been charged with two counts of economic sabotage, crimes that do not allow for bail in Tanzania.
Police spokesman David Misime said late Monday that Mbowe knew that he was being investigated for terrorism, and he left to Mwanza after knowing that he would be arrested.
Six others were also being charged with the same offenses, he added. The case will be mentioned next in court on August 5.
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