Tanzanian police tear-gas Tundu Lissu’s convoy
Chadema presidential candidate Tundu Lissu during a past campaign.
What you need to know:
- Sources say that there was an argument between the police and Chadema’s security earlier in the day.
- According to Chadema's Serengeti zonal secretary Jackson Mnyawami, police officers who were in 10 vehicles also fired live bullets in the air.
The convoy of Tanzanian opposition presidential candidate Tundu Lissu was on Monday hit with tear gas in Nyamongo area while on the way to Serengeti, Mara, sparking heated confrontation between law enforcers and his Chadema party.
Sources say that there was an argument between the police and Chadema’s security earlier in the day over which route to take as they headed to Serengeti.
Whereas the police had marked the route via Bunda, Mr Lissu and his team preferred the Nyamongo route, forcing the police to withdraw from escorting the convoy.
Chadema officials argued that there were several people waiting for them in Nyamongo and therefore they felt it was the right route to take.
It was, however, not clear why security officers who were in Nyamongo decided to fire tear gas cannisters to disperse the crowd upon Mr Lissu’s arrival.
According to Chadema's Serengeti zonal secretary Jackson Mnyawami, police officers who were in 10 vehicles also fired live bullets in the air.
Despite the hiccup, Mr Lissu went on to address the gathering before heading to Serengeti.
The police is yet to comment on the incident.
