The political climate in Tanzania continues to heat up following the alleged arrest of John Heche, the deputy leader of the opposition Chadema Party, on Tuesday, April 22, intensifying fears of a growing crackdown on dissent ahead of the country’s upcoming general elections.
Heche, a former Member of Parliament and the current vice-chairperson of Chadema, was detained during a “No Reforms, No Election” campaign in Dar es Salaam.
According to party officials, he was mobilising support for party leader Tundu Lissu, who is already in custody facing treason charges, a charge that could potentially result in a death sentence if convicted.
Police deny arresting opposition figure
But in a twist of events, the police denied detaining Heche.
Special Zone Police Commander Jumanne Muliro told The Citizen: “In short, we haven’t arrested anyone. We were simply containing the situation in the area. Had the police not intervened, something worse might have occurred.”
The police boss said officers only intervened to restore order after it emerged that the crowd surrounding Heche was about to do an unlawful act. “We haven’t arrested Heche. If you have his number, call him first before coming to me with questions.”
But hours later after the incident, Heche resurfaced on his social media platform, X.
This latest incident comes just weeks after Lissu and several senior Chadema officials were rounded up by authorities.
Chadema maintains that the arrests are not random but rather part of a broader plan to weaken opposition voices as the country prepares for presidential polls later this year.
According to party spokesperson Brenda Rupia, Heche’s arrest appeared abrupt, and the party was struggling to confirm which police station had detained him.
Despite receiving a last-minute police directive to relocate Tuesday’s gathering, the event went ahead as planned.
“The timing and manner of these arrests show a coordinated effort to dismantle the opposition’s legal right to organize and speak out,” said Rupia. “This isn’t just about Chadema, it’s about silencing the people.”
The Tanzanian government recently suggested that Chadema may be barred from participating in the elections, citing the party’s refusal to endorse a disputed electoral code of conduct.
Chadema has repeatedly called for reforms, arguing that the current framework heavily favours the ruling establishment.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan and her administration have been accused of reverting to repressive tactics, echoing past complaints of limited political space and human rights violations.
International observers, including human rights organisations and foreign governments, have raised concerns over the arrests and the reported deaths of opposition activists.
As Tanzania approaches a pivotal election season, political watchers say the government’s actions risk undermining public trust and stability.
