A Tanzanian court has freed the chairman of the main opposition party after the prosecution indicated it had no interest in pursuing charges against him.

Mr Mbowe was arrested in July 2021 in the north-western port city of Mwanza alongside other Chadema party members and has been in detention since then.

They were about to address a public rally to call for constitutional review.

He was facing charges of terrorism and economic sabotage which are not bailable under Tanzanian law.

Last month, Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan met Chadema’s leader Tundu Lissu who is in exile in Belgium.

There was speculation that Mr Mbowe’s release was among the issues discussed, although this was never officially confirmed.