Occupy Arusha?

 

Early this morning in Arusha Northern Tanzania the security forces tried to break up a massive gathering of pposition supporters who gathered in solidarity to a jailed popular Member of Parliament Mr. Godbless Lema. On Monday the jailed opposition leader who refused bail last week was expected to be released by in an unexpected turn of event the court refused to release him disappoint his constituents as well as national leaders of his Party who were in Arusha to receive him from jail. Following that incident national leaders led by Party Chairman Mr. Freeman Mbowe as well as the former Presidential Candidate Dr. Wilbrod Slaa took to the National Milling Cooperation Grounds to announce a seven days 'occupy' event to press for the release of the young and very popular Lema in this Tanzanian Tourists capital. In wee hours of Tuesday morning police (regular and riot police) swamped the grounds using tear gases and rubber bullets tried to disperse the people. More people were expected to come to the ground today to show support in what could be Africa's first "occupy movement" which has been simmering in Arusha for a few days now. Various attempts to reach Arusha Regional Police Commander proved to be futile. Other people however, suspect that the police action was taken to clear way for a visit of Prince Charles and his wife Camilla Parker who are in the country for a three day official tour and are supposed to visit Arusha later today. Arusha is the seat of East African Community as well as the seat of International Criminal Court for Rwanda. It is strategically located midway between Tanzania's major tourist attractions - Kilimanjaro to the East as well as Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti to its West.

Via iReport CNN