Tanzanian Police Arrest Senior Opposition Leader, CHADEMA Reports
Heche was further arrested outside the High Court when he proceeded to Lissu’s trial, said the party spokesperson Brenda Rupia.
President Hassan has, however, continually stated that her administration is committed to upholding human rights. Photo/ courtesy.
By Ruth Sang
The top member of Tanzania’s main opposition party was arrested on Wednesday outside a Dar es Salaam courtroom where opposition leader Tundu Lissu’s treason case was being tried, a party statement by a spokesperson indicated. The arrest occurs just a week before presidential elections in the East African nation, a development that raises fresh questions about political liberty and fairness there.
The nation’s largest two opposition parties—CHADEMA and ACT-Wazalendo—have been barred from vying in the October 29 election, meaning President Samia Suluhu Hassan will face challengers from smaller, less influential parties. The decision has been controversy-ridden and rebuked by rights bodies and political strategists, who say it undermines the nation’s democratic system.
In the run-up to the election, the government has come under growing criticism from opposition politicians and human rights organizations that it has been systematically muzzling other voices by kidnapping and arbitrarily detaining them. President Hassan has, however, continually stated that her administration is committed to upholding human rights. She had previously ordered an investigation into reported cases of political kidnappings, though its findings have yet to be made public.
The party deputy chairperson, John Heche, was arrested at the Dar es Salaam central police station, said CHADEMA’s Secretary General, John Mnyika. Mnyika told the media that there was no reason given by the authorities for Heche’s arrest. Heche was further arrested outside the High Court when he proceeded to Lissu’s trial, said the party spokesperson Brenda Rupia.
Rupia also revealed on the social media platform X that the police then transferred Heche to Tarime, northwestern Tanzania, without informing the party or his family members of the reasons for the move. The unplanned transfer, she said, is part of a string of intimidation measures against opposition leaders.
Meanwhile, Tanzania’s immigration department claimed in a release that Heche had left the country recently without following proper legal procedures. CHADEMA rejected the allegation as a fabrication, clarifying that Heche had simply relocated in order to be present at the funeral of Kenya’s former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga.
Efforts to get a response from government officials were futile. Government spokesperson Gerson Msigwa ignored text messages in a bid to elicit comment, and senior police commanders Jumanne Muliro and Yustino Mgonja were inaccessible for interview.
Heche’s arrest adds to growing fears among opposition supporters that the state machinery is being used to silence political contestation as the nation approaches the election. As the big opposition parties are held in limbo, critics warn Tanzania’s democratic space continues to deteriorate.
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