Tanzanian opposition leader Freeman Mbowe was released on bail following three months in detention over allegations linking him to an unauthorized protest in February 2018, during which a 22-year-old student was killed by a police-fired bullet.
Mbowe, a Chadema party member, and fellow MP Esther Matiko were arrested in November 2018 after failing to appear in court for charges related to the protest. A judicial review on Thursday determined their rights had been violated, leading Judge Sam Rumanyika to order their immediate release on bail.
"It is dangerous to deny bail without valid justification," Rumanyika stated, emphasizing procedural fairness. The judge required Mbowe, Matiko, and seven co-accused to report monthly until their trial on the protest-related charges.
Critics of President John Magufuli's administration, elected in 2015, have accused the government of authoritarian practices, including crackdowns on opposition figures and media. Six opposition parties announced a unified campaign against what they call the president's "dictatorship" in December 2018.
International scrutiny intensified after the U.S. condemned Tanzania's "atmosphere of violence and intimidation" in November 2018, while the EU warned of potential cuts to over $100 million in annual aid over rule-of-law violations.
