{A Tanzanian court on Wednesday (January 28th) charged an opposition party leader with holding a political rally without a permit, AFP reported.}
Police arrested Civil United Front (CUF) national chairperson Ibrahim Lipumba, along with 30 other party members, Tuesday at a demonstration commemorating the deaths of party members in Zanzibar in 2001.
Lipumba spent the night in jail and was released on bail. He was ordered to return to court February 25th.
Lawmaker James Mbatia, leader of the opposition National Convention for Construction and Reform, said Lipumba’s arrest was “unacceptable”.
“Lipumba was mistreated, police used excessive force including tear gas,” Mbatia said, alleging that Lipumba and many others were beaten.
“This is not a small matter, because Lipumba is a party leader with many lawmakers in the House, and CUF also jointly runs the national unity government in Zanzibar,” he said. “He cannot be treated that way.”
Speaker of the National Assembly Anne Makinda adjourned the legislature’s morning and evening sessions Wednesday after opposition lawmakers disrupted them in an attempt to discuss Lipumba’s arrest, Tanzania’s Daily News reported.
Makinda sent the issue to the standing orders committee and directed the government to issue a statement, after which lawmakers will be allowed to discuss the matter.
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