Tanzanian opposition publish 2 Tundu Lissu was arrested on Thursday, 3 days afterwards having called President John Magufuli a "dictator", political party sources said.
No reasons were given for the arrest of Lissu, a fellow member of parliament, the Chadema opposition political party main whip in addition to a leading lawyer.
Government spokesman Hassan Abbas gave no specific argue for the arrest exactly said "the regime volition non attain got that someone, or a grouping of people, abuse the liberty of expression".
Lissu was arrested at Dar es Salaam" drome every bit he attempted to convey a bird to Rwanda, Chadema spokesman Tumaini Makene told AFP.
On Mon Lissu told reporters that repeated arrests of senior political party members, locally in addition to nationally, were intended to muzzle whatsoever opposition to Magufuli, inwards ability since belatedly 2015.
He called on "the dictator in addition to his government, which is politically, diplomatically in addition to economically isolated".
Magufuli, whose nickname "tingatinga" agency "bulldozer" inwards Swahili, swept to ability inwards 2015, presenting himself every bit a no-nonsense, corruption-busting, man-of-the-people.
However critics reckon a broad authoritarian streak at the nitty-gritty of his populism. They debate he acts on impulse regardless of due procedure or political niceties, piece existence intolerant of whatsoever dissent.
Lissu spoke of a "climate of fright which reigns everywhere", accusing Magufuli of constructing "a organisation based on favouritism, tribalism in addition to regionalism".
Opposition meetings are banned, newspapers attain got been nigh downward in addition to journalists in addition to artists attain got been threatened or received popular off threats for criticising the administration.
AFP