Tanzania’s political tensions have escalated sharply after police arrested a top opposition figure and charged hundreds of people with treason following widespread protests over last month’s controversial general election.
Opposition Leader Among Those Detained
The opposition party Chadema confirmed that its deputy secretary-general, Amani Golugwa, was arrested early on Saturday, making him the third senior party member in custody. Party leader Tundu Lissu and deputy leader John Heche were also detained ahead of the disputed October 29 vote.
According to police, Golugwa’s arrest is linked to an ongoing investigation into violent unrest that erupted after the elections. Authorities said nine others were detained alongside him, while Chadema’s secretary-general John Mnyika and communications head Brenda Rupia remain on a police wanted list.
Mass Treason Charges Following Protests
Lawyer Peter Kibatala told AFP that more than 250 people were arraigned in three separate cases on charges of conspiracy and treason. The arrests come after protests broke out in multiple Tanzanian cities — including Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza, and Mbeya — as opposition groups accused the government of election rigging.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who succeeded the late John Magufuli in 2021, claimed victory with an overwhelming 98 percent of the vote. Chadema has rejected the results, calling the election a “sham” and accusing the government of attempting to “cripple the party’s leadership and paralyse its operations.”
Mounting Death Toll and Allegations of Brutality
While the Tanzanian government has refused to release official casualty figures, the Catholic Church in Tanzania reported that hundreds were killed during the protests. Chadema claims the number exceeds 1,000 deaths, accusing security forces of hiding bodies to conceal the scale of the violence.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission went further, alleging that at least 3,000 people were killed and thousands more remain missing. The group released photographic evidence showing gunshot wounds to the head and chest, describing the killings as “targeted, not crowd-control actions.”
AU Condemns Tanzania’s Election Irregularities
The African Union (AU) criticized Tanzania’s election process, stating it failed to meet international standards for free and fair polls. AU observers reported ballot stuffing, multiple voting, and other serious irregularities.
Despite promises of reform, President Hassan faces growing accusations of authoritarianism. Analysts say Tanzania’s return to de facto single-party rule threatens the country’s democratic future.
