John Heche, the Vice Chair of Tanzania's main opposition party CHADEMA, has reported that injured people arrested during last month's protests continue to be held in police stations.
Heche claims to have received data that some of these people have big wounds and serious injuries, and the police department is showing no intentions of helping them secure medical services.
He says that this is being witnessed in most parts of the country, including Dar es Salaam and Arusha.
"There are people with serious injuries who are still being held in police stations and prison cells. The situation is being reported in Shinyanga, Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, Arusha and the whole country," he claims on X.
He also claims that government officials are using President Samia Suluhu's announcement to have pardoned some of the suspects to enrich themselves, by demanding bribes before releasing those cleared by the Directorate of Public Prosecution.
Heche says people are having to pay up to Tsh500,000 in bribe per person to be released, including in his Tarime Rural area, which he previously represented in parliament.
"I have reliable information from people who were arrested and charged with fake treason cases. This has become a way for government officials to earn money," he adds.
"In Tarime, there are people who have given five hundred thousand to one million shillings to buy their freedom. What was called amnesty has turned into a business for people."
Heche further claims that police officers are now threatening to prosecute whoever they arrest with treason charges, in a bid to scare them and hopeful succeed in forcing a bribe out of them.
It's worth noting that people arrested in line with the October 29 anti-government protests were charged with treason.
0 Comments