The charismatic leader heading the women’s wing, for one of Tanzania’s strong opposition parties, the ACT Wazalendo, Janeth Rithe, has been arrested.
She was reportedly picked up by a team of police officers who stormed into her office on Friday afternoon.
An official statement from the ACT Wazalendo, reveals that, the police stormed into the party offices in Dar-es-salaam and picked up the outspoken female politician, who of late was becoming extremely popular among the crowd which attended her rallies.
According to the ACT Wazalendo’s Deputy Information, Communication and Public Relations Secretary, Shangwe Ayo, posted on his Twitter page lamenting the arrest of their leader at the time when Tanzania is preparing for the ‘General Elections!’
“But the struggle for democracy continues,” wrote Ayo, who is also filling the opposition docket for the shadow cabinet minister for Public Service and Good Governance.
It is still not clear why the state organs have now decided to arrest the ACT Wazalendo’s women leader, considering her party has not been such a big threat to the ruling establishment in the East African country.
In another development, officers from the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) in Kigali have arrested at staunch female opposition leader, Victoire Ingabire.’
Ingabire is currently being held under custody for allegedly attempting a coup against President Paul Kagame’s government,’ and has in fact already appeared in court.
Victoire Ingabire is believed to be among the nine suspects in Rwanda who are alleged to be plotting plans to overthrow the current regime using alternative and non-violent strategic plans.