Tundu Lissu is one of the top Chadema leaders in Tanzania who have been arrested in a fraud operation

Tanzanian police have arrested prominent politician Tundu Lissu and two other Chadema opposition officials, the group said.

It says the three were arrested on Sunday in the southwest of Mbeya city, the day before their gathering to celebrate World Youth Day.

The reported arrest comes a year after President Samia Hassan lifted a law banning opposition rallies and promised to restore competitive politics.

On Sunday, the police closed down the Chadema rally saying it intended to cause violence.

They cited the group’s call for people to unite as “Kenya youth” – apparently referring to weeks of anti-government protests in the neighboring East African country.

On Monday morning, a Chadema official told the BBC that they do not know where the arrested leaders are being held.

The police have not officially spoken about the arrest of these. The BBC has contacted them for comment.

Chadema’s spokesperson, John Mrema, said that a number of young people who were traveling in rented buses were arrested and forced to return to their districts under gun control.

About 10,000 youths were expected to gather in Mbeya to celebrate youth day, with the slogan, “Control your future” according to the group’s youth wing.

But the police said in the statement that no such meetings shall be permitted in the city or elsewhere in the country.

Chadema officials shared photos of a large group of about 100 members of the group who they say are being held in Iringa, a town near Mbeya. They were released and escorted back to where they came from.

Chadema has condemned the arrest of these, as the party’s Chairman Freeman Mbowe wrote on page X “immediate, unconditional release of our leaders, members and supporters who are imprisoned across the country”.

Mr Lissu, who survived an assassination attempt in 2017 after being shot 16 times, returned to Tanzania last year after two years in exile in Belgium.

He also returned after President Samia lifted the law prohibiting political gatherings that was imposed by former President John Magufuli in 2016.

The ban prohibited political parties from holding rallies and even engaging in internal politics.

Ms Samia, who took office in 2021 following the sudden death of Mr Magufuli, has been praised for moving away from many of the policies of her predecessor.

But following the arrest of these, some opposition politicians have criticized him saying that he is not ready for political reconciliation.

Tanzania will hold presidential and parliamentary elections late next year.

Additional reporting by Basillioh Rukanga