Tanzanian Police Detain Chadema Official Amid Election Protests Crackdown

Tanzanian authorities have detained a senior official from the main opposition party, Chadema, amid a spate of arrests in connection to deadly protests during elections last week. The opposition party claims its deputy secretary general, Amani Golugwa, was arrested by police on Saturday, while authorities are seeking the arrest of nine more people, including others in the party. According to Chadema, over 1,000 people were killed by security forces during the demonstrations, a figure corroborated by human rights bodies. However, the Tanzanian government has disputed these numbers, stating they were exaggerated. The government has not provided its own figures. The arrests come as authorities have charged more than 200 people with treason in connection to the protests. The opposition party has condemned the government's actions, labeling the election of incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan as fraudulent due to the disqualification of rival candidates. The government has maintained that the elections were free and fair, despite the opposition's claims of irregularities. The electoral commission has not commented on the allegations. The opposition party has called for an independent investigation into the violence and the electoral process. The government has yet to respond to these demands. In the aftermath of the protests, the international community has expressed concern over the human rights situation in Tanzania. The United Nations has called for restraint and respect for human rights, while the European Union has urged the government to address the opposition's concerns. As the situation continues to unfold, the opposition party has vowed to continue its fight for democracy and human rights in Tanzania. The government has maintained its stance on the election results, but the exact course of action remains uncertain.