Chadema laments over members’ arrests

Dar es Salaam. The Chadema National Youth Council (Bavicha) has reiterated its disappointment at the force used by the police during the proceedings of its party leaders' case in the courts.

The council said it recently (12 December, 2018) wrote a letter to the Chief Justice asking him to intervene on the 'abuse' of human rights at the country's magistrate courts by the police, but the wing didnot receive any response from the CJ.

"We are disappointed with the force applied by the police during the hearing of our party leaders' case at the court.

We had written a letter to the CJ asking him to intervene because our people were being arrested and detained while in court, but he never responded," said Bavicha chairman Patrick Ole Sosopi when addressing the press on Wednesday, February 20, in Dar es Salaam.

He also said given the reputation of Freeman Mbowe, people - especially party followers - always want to know how the case would end, but the tendency of the security forces to arrest and beat them was contrary to  their rights.

"We were surprised on 18 February, 2019 during court proceedings for Mbowe and Esther Matiko's case that a number of party members who came out to listen to the case were arrested and others beaten by the police in front of judges and no action was taken by the court," he said.

*On the police failing to fully protect the people*

Besides, Bavicha said the Police Force was losing its legitimacy as an authority to protect people in the country.

Mr Ole Sosopi said that several times people have died at police stations, others allegedly killed by law enforcers but no investigations had borne results.

"We want the Police Force to work hard so that it can regain its legitimacy among the people of Tanzania. People have been yearning to get feedback on various investigations in vain," he said.

The youth leaders said that if the police continued to shy away from securing the people, the latter would lose trust in them.