Tanzania’s main opposition leader Freeman Mbowe has been released after spending more than seven months in custody on terrorism charges.

His supporters said the case was a politically motivated and his release is seen as a sign that the government could be about to allow the opposition to operate more freely.

The prosecution did not explain why it had decided to drop the charges. Mbowe’s defence lawyer Peter Kibatala, welcomed his client’s release as a huge victory.

The 60-year-old Mbowe is the chairman of Chadema, one of Tanzania’s main opposition parties.