Police in Musoma, in Tanzania’s Mara Region, fired tear gas to disperse women marking International Women’s Day and arrested opposition leaders and activists from the Party for Democracy and Progress (CHADEMA).
CHADEMA said 247 women members were detained after attempting to gather in the northern town on the eastern shores of Lake Victoria.
Pamela Maassay, secretary-general of BAWACHA — the party’s women’s wing — was arrested shortly after addressing the crowd.
John Kitoka, a senior CHADEMA official, condemned the crackdown, saying it reflected a broader pattern of repression.
“What happened in Musoma is not about public order; it is about silencing women who dared to speak about justice and equality. This is a deliberate attempt to intimidate our members,” Kitoka said.
CHADEMA’s director of publicity and communications, Brenda Rupia, confirmed the arrests and demanded the immediate release of those detained.
“Our women gathered to celebrate International Women’s Day in line with this year’s theme of rights and equality. Instead, they were met with tear gas and arbitrary detention. We demand the unconditional release of Pamela Maassay and all 247 members arrested in Musoma,” Rupia said.
Witnesses said police surrounded the gathering before firing tear gas to disperse participants.
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Moments before her arrest, Maassay told the crowd:
“Women of CHADEMA have decided to stand for justice and speak the truth. By coming to Musoma you have set an example. But now we find ourselves surrounded by the Police Force.”
The incident highlights growing tensions between Tanzanian authorities and opposition groups, who accuse the government of tightening restrictions on dissent through arrests, prosecutions and limits on public assembly.
