Kawe MP Halima Mdee arrested by police for questioning

What you need to know:

  • Kawe Member of Parliament Halima Mdee has been arrested by police for questioning after she was alleged to have uttered disrespect words against the government and President John Magufuli.
  •  Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander Lazaro Mambosasa confirms.

Dar es Salaam. Police at the Dar es Salaam Special Zone have arrested the Kawe Member of Parliament Halima Mdee (Chadema) and taken her for questioning after it was alleged that she made disrespectful statements against the government and President John Magufuli.

Speaking to The Citizen on Saturday, February 23, 2019, the Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander Lazaro Mambosasa said the outspoken MP, who doubles as Chadema women wing (Bawacha) chairperson, has been arrested and not summoned as she had earlier posted on social media.

At 9:15 today, Ms Mdee posted a statement saying she had been summoned by law enforcers at the Oysterbay Police Station.

“I have been summoned by police […] but I’m not aware of the reason until now. Let’s go,” her tweet, literally translated from Swahili said.

But, when contacted, Mr Mambosasa said in a telephone interview, “Ms Mdee has been arrested this morning after we failed to do so yesterday and throughout the night.”

“She is arrested for defying police directives not to hold political rallies in her constituency because of shortage of police officers to provide security.”

According to him, the MP went on with rallies where she is accused of uttering disrespectful words against the government and President Magufuli.

He said she is being questioned to unveil reasons for her “negligence and indecent politics that involves attacking government leaders.”

When asked if Dar es Salaam MPs are prohibited to hold rallies in their constituencies, Mr Mambosasa said Ms Mdee was temporarily restricted because there were no sufficient police officers to maintain order at a place she was holding rallies.

“She defied the directives and as she goes on with rallies she continues to utter disrespectful words to the authorities,” he said.

He noted that already she has addressed not less than two to three rallies and that today she was slated to address another at Makongo Juu.

According to him, the MP was yet to be taken to the Central Police Station.