All Article Properties:
{
"access_control": false,
"status": "publish",
"objectType": "Article",
"id": "2379552",
"signature": "Article:2379552",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-09-23-arrest-of-tanzanian-opposition-leaders-fuels-fears-of-government-crackdown-as-elections-loom/",
"shorturl": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2379552",
"slug": "arrest-of-tanzanian-opposition-leaders-fuels-fears-of-government-crackdown-as-elections-loom",
"contentType": {
"id": "1",
"name": "Article",
"slug": "article"
},
"views": 0,
"comments": 0,
"preview_limit": null,
"excludedFromGoogleSearchEngine": 0,
"title": "Arrest of Tanzanian opposition leaders fuels fears of government crackdown as elections loom",
"firstPublished": "2024-09-23 18:52:42",
"lastUpdate": "2024-09-23 19:30:30",
"categories": [
{
"id": "3",
"name": "Africa",
"signature": "Category:3",
"slug": "africa",
"typeId": {
"typeId": "1",
"name": "Daily Maverick",
"slug": "",
"includeInIssue": "0",
"shortened_domain": "",
"stylesheetClass": "",
"domain": "staging.dailymaverick.co.za",
"articleUrlPrefix": "",
"access_groups": "[]",
"locale": "",
"preview_limit": null
},
"parentId": null,
"parent": [],
"image": "",
"cover": "",
"logo": "",
"paid": "0",
"objectType": "Category",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/category/africa/",
"cssCode": "",
"template": "default",
"tagline": "",
"link_param": null,
"description": "",
"metaDescription": "",
"order": "0",
"pageId": null,
"articlesCount": null,
"allowComments": "1",
"accessType": "freecount",
"status": "1",
"children": [],
"cached": true
}
],
"content_length": 5084,
"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leaders of Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, were detained on Monday 23 September amid plans to protest against recent abductions and murders of opposition members. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Among those arrested was the chairman of Chadema, Freeman Mbowe (63) and his deputy in the mainland, Tundu Lissu (56). </span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more:</b> <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-09-23-tanzania-arrests-opposition-leaders-to-thwart-protest/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tanzania arrests opposition leaders to thwart protest</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chadema spokesperson, John Mrema, confirmed that Lissu was arrested in the early hours of Monday at his home in Tegeta, Dar es Salaam, while Mbowe was picked up on the street in the Magomeni area ahead of the planned demonstration.</span>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-2315669 size-large\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/peterfab-Tanzaniaarrests-TunduLissu1-720x448.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"448\" /> Tanzanian opposition stalwart Tundu Lissu waves to supporters upon his return after five years in exile, at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam on 25 January 2023. (File Photo: Ericky Boniphace / AFP)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a phone interview on Monday afternoon, Mrema told Daily Maverick that Lissu was being detained at Mbweni police station, while Mbowe was being held at Oysterbay police station in Dar es Salaam. He said lawyers were currently with the detained leaders.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both Lissu and Mbowe’s homes were surrounded by police on Sunday night, according to Mrema. He said that since Friday, 20 September, there has been a heavy police presence in Dar es Salaam. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before his arrest, Lissu said in a post on X that three police vehicles with numerous law enforcement officers had surrounded his house. </span>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Three police vehicles full of officers in riot gear are outside my residence. They've informed me I'm directed to be taken to the Regional Crimes Officer Kinondoni. I'm getting ready to go.</p>\r\n— Tundu Antiphas Lissu (@TunduALissu) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TunduALissu/status/1838074012779356435?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 23, 2024</a></blockquote>\r\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The opposition leaders’ arrests come only a few weeks after they were previously detained, along with more than 500 people, while planning to attend a Youth Day rally organised by Chadema in the southwestern city of Mbeya. Police had banned the gathering ahead of the 12 August meeting on the grounds that it was likely to “breach the peace”, </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-08-13-tanzanian-police-release-opposition-leaders-after-mass-arrests/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reuters reported</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. </span>\r\n\r\n<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2379563\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/WhatsApp-Image-2024-09-23-at-17.45.33.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"836\" height=\"1080\" />\r\n\r\n<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2379564\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/WhatsApp-Image-2024-09-23-at-17.45.32.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1333\" />\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The mass arrests surprised analysts as they came after Tanzanian President Samia Hassan last year lifted a ban on opposition gatherings and pledged to restore competitive politics in the country. Hassan had been </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-06-07-samia-suluhu-hassans-hesitant-tanzania-reforms-and-slow-progress-may-be-self-preservation-strategy/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">steadily freeing the country’s restrictive political</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> landscape fostered by her authoritarian predecessor, John Magufuli. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following the mass arrests last month, human rights organisations, including </span><a href=\"https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/08/tanzania-end-mass-arrests-and-arbitrary-detentions-of-political-opposition/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amnesty International</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, condemned Hassan’s government as targeting political opponents ahead of the local government elections in December and the national elections in 2025.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mrema said the political party was concerned by the government’s recent change in attitude towards opposition gatherings.</span>\r\n<blockquote><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We have seen the government is changing dramatically towards the coming local government elections and we are seriously worried. They want to instil fear in our people,” Mrema told Daily Maverick. </span></blockquote>\r\n<b>Read more: </b><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-08-12-da-amnesty-international-condemn-arrests-of-tanzania-opposition-leader-tundu-lissu-and-other-chadema-members/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DA, Amnesty International condemn arrests of Tanzania opposition leader Tundu Lissu and other Chadema members</span></a>\r\n<h4><b>More than 50 arrests</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The demonstration planned on Monday was intended to highlight the recent abductions, disappearances and killings of members of the political party, according to Mrema. Earlier this month, a senior Chadema member, Ali Mohamed Kibao, was abducted from a bus and killed. Kibao’s body was later found with signs he had been beaten and had acid poured on his face. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The purpose of this mourning is to express our grievances to the government, which has the duty to protect its citizens and their property, urging an immediate end to these acts and the release of those detained.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Despite following the political party law regarding peaceful protest notifications, police have used excessive force to suppress these demonstrations and arrest various leaders and members,” Mrema said in a statement on Monday afternoon. </span>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\"><a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Updates?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Updates</a></p>\r\nThe list of leaders, members, citizens, and journalists arrested and detained by the Police today, September 23, 2024 <a href=\"https://t.co/u9W67vYK2z\">pic.twitter.com/u9W67vYK2z</a>\r\n\r\n— CHADEMA Tanzania (@ChademaTz) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/ChademaTz/status/1838243094598201780?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 23, 2024</a></blockquote>\r\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He said the political organisation had recorded more than 50 arrests on Monday, including party leaders, members, citizens and journalists. However, Tanzanian police said only 14 people were arrested for defying a ban on the protest. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We are worried about why the police are hiding some of the names, including the name of our deputy secretary-general, who was arrested while in the office headquarters,” Mrema told Daily Maverick. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the statement, those arrested on Monday included Chadema’s deputy secretary-general Benson Kigaila; northern regional chairman Godbless Lema; regional chairpersons Rhoda Kunchela and Emmanuel Ntobi; Mbowe’s wife, Dr Lillian Mtei and his daughter Nicole Freeman Mbowe; multiple leaders from coastal regions and staff from the organisation’s office. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The office of South Africa’s Minister for International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, declined to comment. </span><b>DM</b>",
"teaser": "Arrest of Tanzanian opposition leaders fuels fears of government crackdown as elections loom",
"externalUrl": "",
"sponsor": null,
"authors": [
{
"id": "1007588",
"name": "Victoria O’Regan",
"image": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Victoria-ORegan.png",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/author/victoria-oregan-2/",
"editorialName": "victoria-oregan-2",
"department": "",
"name_latin": ""
}
],
"description": "",
"keywords": [
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "12594",
"name": "Tanzania",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/tanzania/",
"slug": "tanzania",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Tanzania",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "12677",
"name": "Amnesty International",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/amnesty-international/",
"slug": "amnesty-international",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Amnesty International",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "13659",
"name": "Tundu Lissu",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/tundu-lissu/",
"slug": "tundu-lissu",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Tundu Lissu",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "20476",
"name": "Dirco",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/dirco/",
"slug": "dirco",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Dirco",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "57360",
"name": "opposition",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/opposition/",
"slug": "opposition",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "opposition",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "64475",
"name": "Chadema",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/chadema/",
"slug": "chadema",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Chadema",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "276670",
"name": "Freeman Mbowe",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/freeman-mbowe/",
"slug": "freeman-mbowe",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Freeman Mbowe",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "384553",
"name": "Victoria O’Regan",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/victoria-oregan/",
"slug": "victoria-oregan",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Victoria O’Regan",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "424539",
"name": "President Samia Suluku Hassan",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/president-samia-suluku-hassan/",
"slug": "president-samia-suluku-hassan",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "President Samia Suluku Hassan",
"translations": null
}
}
],
"short_summary": null,
"source": null,
"related": [],
"options": [],
"attachments": [
{
"id": "109164",
"name": "Tanzanian opposition stalwart Tundu Lissu waves to supporters upon his return after five years in exile, at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam on 25 January 2023. (File Photo: Ericky Boniphace / AFP)",
"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leaders of Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, were detained on Monday 23 September amid plans to protest against recent abductions and murders of opposition members. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Among those arrested was the chairman of Chadema, Freeman Mbowe (63) and his deputy in the mainland, Tundu Lissu (56). </span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more:</b> <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-09-23-tanzania-arrests-opposition-leaders-to-thwart-protest/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tanzania arrests opposition leaders to thwart protest</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chadema spokesperson, John Mrema, confirmed that Lissu was arrested in the early hours of Monday at his home in Tegeta, Dar es Salaam, while Mbowe was picked up on the street in the Magomeni area ahead of the planned demonstration.</span>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2315669\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"wp-image-2315669 size-large\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/peterfab-Tanzaniaarrests-TunduLissu1-720x448.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"448\" /> Tanzanian opposition stalwart Tundu Lissu waves to supporters upon his return after five years in exile, at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam on 25 January 2023. (File Photo: Ericky Boniphace / AFP)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a phone interview on Monday afternoon, Mrema told Daily Maverick that Lissu was being detained at Mbweni police station, while Mbowe was being held at Oysterbay police station in Dar es Salaam. He said lawyers were currently with the detained leaders.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both Lissu and Mbowe’s homes were surrounded by police on Sunday night, according to Mrema. He said that since Friday, 20 September, there has been a heavy police presence in Dar es Salaam. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before his arrest, Lissu said in a post on X that three police vehicles with numerous law enforcement officers had surrounded his house. </span>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Three police vehicles full of officers in riot gear are outside my residence. They've informed me I'm directed to be taken to the Regional Crimes Officer Kinondoni. I'm getting ready to go.</p>\r\n— Tundu Antiphas Lissu (@TunduALissu) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TunduALissu/status/1838074012779356435?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 23, 2024</a></blockquote>\r\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The opposition leaders’ arrests come only a few weeks after they were previously detained, along with more than 500 people, while planning to attend a Youth Day rally organised by Chadema in the southwestern city of Mbeya. Police had banned the gathering ahead of the 12 August meeting on the grounds that it was likely to “breach the peace”, </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-08-13-tanzanian-police-release-opposition-leaders-after-mass-arrests/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reuters reported</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. </span>\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2379563\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/WhatsApp-Image-2024-09-23-at-17.45.33.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"836\" height=\"1080\" />\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2379564\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/WhatsApp-Image-2024-09-23-at-17.45.32.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1333\" />\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The mass arrests surprised analysts as they came after Tanzanian President Samia Hassan last year lifted a ban on opposition gatherings and pledged to restore competitive politics in the country. Hassan had been </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-06-07-samia-suluhu-hassans-hesitant-tanzania-reforms-and-slow-progress-may-be-self-preservation-strategy/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">steadily freeing the country’s restrictive political</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> landscape fostered by her authoritarian predecessor, John Magufuli. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following the mass arrests last month, human rights organisations, including </span><a href=\"https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/08/tanzania-end-mass-arrests-and-arbitrary-detentions-of-political-opposition/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amnesty International</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, condemned Hassan’s government as targeting political opponents ahead of the local government elections in December and the national elections in 2025.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mrema said the political party was concerned by the government’s recent change in attitude towards opposition gatherings.</span>\r\n<blockquote><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We have seen the government is changing dramatically towards the coming local government elections and we are seriously worried. They want to instil fear in our people,” Mrema told Daily Maverick. </span></blockquote>\r\n<b>Read more: </b><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-08-12-da-amnesty-international-condemn-arrests-of-tanzania-opposition-leader-tundu-lissu-and-other-chadema-members/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DA, Amnesty International condemn arrests of Tanzania opposition leader Tundu Lissu and other Chadema members</span></a>\r\n<h4><b>More than 50 arrests</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The demonstration planned on Monday was intended to highlight the recent abductions, disappearances and killings of members of the political party, according to Mrema. Earlier this month, a senior Chadema member, Ali Mohamed Kibao, was abducted from a bus and killed. Kibao’s body was later found with signs he had been beaten and had acid poured on his face. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The purpose of this mourning is to express our grievances to the government, which has the duty to protect its citizens and their property, urging an immediate end to these acts and the release of those detained.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Despite following the political party law regarding peaceful protest notifications, police have used excessive force to suppress these demonstrations and arrest various leaders and members,” Mrema said in a statement on Monday afternoon. </span>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\"><a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Updates?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Updates</a></p>\r\nThe list of leaders, members, citizens, and journalists arrested and detained by the Police today, September 23, 2024 <a href=\"https://t.co/u9W67vYK2z\">pic.twitter.com/u9W67vYK2z</a>\r\n\r\n— CHADEMA Tanzania (@ChademaTz) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/ChademaTz/status/1838243094598201780?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 23, 2024</a></blockquote>\r\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He said the political organisation had recorded more than 50 arrests on Monday, including party leaders, members, citizens and journalists. However, Tanzanian police said only 14 people were arrested for defying a ban on the protest. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We are worried about why the police are hiding some of the names, including the name of our deputy secretary-general, who was arrested while in the office headquarters,” Mrema told Daily Maverick. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the statement, those arrested on Monday included Chadema’s deputy secretary-general Benson Kigaila; northern regional chairman Godbless Lema; regional chairpersons Rhoda Kunchela and Emmanuel Ntobi; Mbowe’s wife, Dr Lillian Mtei and his daughter Nicole Freeman Mbowe; multiple leaders from coastal regions and staff from the organisation’s office. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The office of South Africa’s Minister for International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, declined to comment. </span><b>DM</b>",
"focal": "50% 50%",
"width": 0,
"height": 0,
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/12521353-1.jpg",
"transforms": [
{
"x": "200",
"y": "100",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/xSooDTA1ow_LFkNtiy74xQR1ujA=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/12521353-1.jpg"
},
{
"x": "450",
"y": "0",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/oFOuZufUGKb6joQLnnHuq86rgsA=/450x0/smart/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/12521353-1.jpg"
},
{
"x": "800",
"y": "0",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/M6pCoaDpLqLSUfydWG_bW5NlqRM=/800x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/12521353-1.jpg"
},
{
"x": "1200",
"y": "0",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/pnPdO64dn-zbutmrAAVEVyUQrf8=/1200x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/12521353-1.jpg"
},
{
"x": "1600",
"y": "0",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/D5hKlbGyWXWDSoGEsRQVFFxbrmk=/1600x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/12521353-1.jpg"
}
],
"url_thumbnail": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/xSooDTA1ow_LFkNtiy74xQR1ujA=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/12521353-1.jpg",
"url_medium": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/oFOuZufUGKb6joQLnnHuq86rgsA=/450x0/smart/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/12521353-1.jpg",
"url_large": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/M6pCoaDpLqLSUfydWG_bW5NlqRM=/800x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/12521353-1.jpg",
"url_xl": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/pnPdO64dn-zbutmrAAVEVyUQrf8=/1200x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/12521353-1.jpg",
"url_xxl": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/D5hKlbGyWXWDSoGEsRQVFFxbrmk=/1600x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/12521353-1.jpg",
"type": "image"
}
],
"summary": "Tanzanian police arrested more than 50 people ahead of a planned demonstration against recent abductions and killings in the country. ",
"template_type": null,
"dm_custom_section_label": null,
"elements": [],
"seo": {
"search_title": "Arrest of Tanzanian opposition leaders fuels fears of government crackdown as elections loom",
"search_description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leaders of Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, were detained on Monday 23 September amid plans to protest against recent abductions and murders of opposition mem",
"social_title": "Arrest of Tanzanian opposition leaders fuels fears of government crackdown as elections loom",
"social_description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leaders of Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, were detained on Monday 23 September amid plans to protest against recent abductions and murders of opposition mem",
"social_image": ""
},
"cached": true,
"access_allowed": true
} 
Tanzanian opposition stalwart Tundu Lissu waves to supporters upon his return after five years in exile, at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam on 25 January 2023. (File Photo: Ericky Boniphace / AFP)
