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Tanzanian opposition leader Freedom Mbowe appeared in court on Friday on terrorism charges that his supporters have denounced as a politically motivated measure to silence dissent.
It was the first time Mbowe had been seen in public since his arrest along with other members of his Chadema party on July 21, just hours before a public forum on constitutional reform was held.
Mbowe, 59, waved the V sign for victory as he arrived at court in Tanzania’s economic capital, Dar es Salaam, transported in a green van from prison.
Security was tight to prevent a repeat of a protest by his supporters in court on Thursday that was dispersed by riot police.
But Chadema said 11 party members were arrested when they appeared in court on Friday.
Mbowe has been charged with terrorist financing and conspiracy in a case that has raised concerns among rights groups and Western countries about the state of democracy under new Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
The case against him was adjourned until August 13.
Mbowe was originally scheduled to appear in court via video link from prison on Thursday, but the case was postponed until Friday due to connection issues, his defense lawyer Peter Kibatala said.
Kibatala said Thursday that the charges against Mbowe “have no legal basis”, calling them “opportunistic and possibly politically motivated”.
Mbowe’s arrest came four months after Hassan took office following the sudden death of his predecessor John Magufuli.
There had been hopes that Hassan would usher in the change in autocratic rule of Magufuli, nicknamed the “Bulldozer” for his uncompromising style.
But Chadema leaders say the arrest of Mbowe and his colleagues reflects a deeper slide towards “dictatorship” under Hassan.
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